A pair of gilt-bronze-mounted Chinese powder blue porcelain vases and covers, possibly by François Rémond - the porcelain 18th century, the mounts Louis XVI, circa 1775-80

each of baluster form, with an inverted bell-shaped acanthus-cast removeable cover with a foliate finial, the collar cast with guilloche and leaves, the handles in the form of classical female terms holding berried laurel swags, on a square base with acanthus wrapped reeded border and concave corners cast with guilloche flanking stippled panels: traces of gilding on the porcelain. each: 49cm. high, 28cm. wide; 7¼in., 11in. Estimate: 300,000—500,000 GBP - Lot Sold.  Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium:  825,250 GBP

Provenance: Sold from the Alexander Collection, Christie's, New York, 30th April 1999, lot 95

Comparative Literature:
C.Baulez, Le Luminaire de la Princesse Kinsky, L'Estampille/L'Objet d'Art, May, 1991, pp. 98-99;
G.de Bellaigue, The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor: Furniture, Clocks and Gilt-Bronzes, Vol. II, Fribourg, 1974, no. 208, pp. 774-775

The female figures forming the handles on this magnificent pair of vases with their finely cast and chased mounts would appear to be a recurring feature of the work of François Rémond when he was undertaking work for the celebrated marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre.

They can be found on a Chinese ovoid vase in Waddesdon Manor, formerly the property of Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, see Bellaigue, op. cit., p. 775, illustrated, reproduced here in fig.1. Designed in the elegant neo-classical style of the 1770s, the distinctive siren mounts are in the manner of Etienne-Maurice Falconet (1716-91). He was a leading sculptor working in the classical style and was renowned for his designs for nude nymphs. He was chief modeller at Sèvres 1757-66 and also modelled for work by the silversmiths August and Germain.

A mounted vase of identical design (its porcelain described as `Chinese mazarin-blue porcelain') with the same female mounts formerly part of the Sneyd heirlooms at Keele Hall (Staffordshire was sold Christie's, 26th June 1924, lot 96). Another of larger size, was formerly in the Founès Collection. Several examples pierced to accomodate a clock, the dial signed by Lepaute previously belonged to Madame C. Lelong (sold Galerie Georges Petit, 11th-15th May 1903, lot 866). Another with the dial signed by Martin, was formerly in the collection of Sir George Lindsay Holford (sold Christie's, 13th-14th July 1927, lot 200, illustrated).

It is also worthwhile considering a clock with identical siren mounts, formerly given by Queen Olga of Württemberg (1829-1899), to her lady -in-waiting Princess Schaumburg-Lippe, sold Christie's, London, 13th June 2002, lot 5, reproduced here in fig. 2. The presence of identical mounts on clocks to those on the present pair of vases leads to the conclusion that these vases were originally the vases of a clock garniture.

The female mounts can also be seen on a pair of three light girandoles, supplied to Princesse Kinsky in 1788, together with a pair of small candlesticks, delivered on the 22nd January 1789, see C. Baulez, op.cit., pp. 98-99.

The female figures on these vases relate to those upon a chandelier supplied to the marquis de Laborde for the château de Mereville by the marchand-mercier Dominique Daguerre-see lot 40, from the collection of M. Hubert de Givenchy, sold Christie's Monaco, 4th December 1993. One of the principal bronziers working for Daguerre was François Rémond, the ciseleur-doreur (1745/47-1812) received master in 1774. The aforementioned chandelier corresponds closely to a watercolour design which illustrates mermaids with acanthus scrolled bodies as on the offered vases, now in the Musée des arts Décoratifs. Daguerre is known to have been supplied with goods by Rémond between February 1778 and August 1792, amounting to 920,000 livres.

Sotheby's London. The Dimitri Mavrommatis Collection: Important French Furniture and Sèvres Porcelain from the Chester Square Residence, London. 08 Jul 08. www.sothebys.com