A Pair of Sevres (Louis-Philippe) Porcelain Vases. One signed and dated Didier 1844, the interior of the vases with blue stenciled crowned LP monogram marks for 1844, the undersides with black stenciled LP monogram marks for 1837, each with incised script M. Photo: Christie's Images Ltd 2012

Each finely painted front and back with a putto taming a squirrel, releasing a love bird, or playing either the lyre or pipes, all seated on ribbon-tied floral swags suspended from jeweled cabochons, the sides with nesting birds resting on similar floral garlands, all between further 'jeweled' gilt and platinum foliate borders and panels, mounted on a later gilt-metal square base; 16¾ in. (42.3 cm.) high (2) - Lot 43. Estimate $40,000 - $60,000

Provenance: Delivered to Louis-Philippe, King of France, 12 September 1844. 

A Royal gift from Louis-Philippe, King of France.

Notes: Charles-Antoine Didier, fils is recorded as a painter at Sèvres (1819-1848).

The Sèvres archives record these vases as having been delivered to the saleroom on 29 August 1844, (Registre Vv4, folio 27, no 73) but returned to the factory shortly thereafter. They were then delivered to King Louis-Philippe as an intended gift on 12 September 1844 (Registre Vbb, folio 38).

Christie's wishes to thank Tamara Préaud for her assistance in the cataloguing of this lot.

Christie's. 500 Years: Decorative Arts Europe Including Oriental Carpets. 7 June 2012 . New York, Rockefeller Plaza