Ewer & Basin, Vincennes Soft-Paste Porcelain

Circa 1749-1750

The models of the « pot à eau lizonné » and the « jatte lizonnée » with their delicately undulating surface are known in only very few examples, all dating from the early years of the Vincennes factory, circa 1749-1750 (well before the introduction of date-letters in 1754). The early flower painting is still influenced by Meissen and derived from woodcut prints. The borders are heightened with puce feathering, with a beautiful shell motif on top of the spout cover. The discreet gilding adds subtle richness to the whole.

The fine silver-gilt mounts are original and strictly from the period, bearing the Paris discharge mark for the period 1750-1756.

• Overall height of pot : 20,5 cm (8 1/16 inches)
• Diameter of basin : 24,9 cm (9 13/16 inches)
• Height of basin : 8,2 cm (3 1/4 inches)

Condition :

There are two small chips to the top edge of the basin, one to its footrim and two to the top edge of the pot (under the cover), all simply retouched in colour but not restored. There are also several minor visible fire-cracks, including one at the top of the handle near the body. Some visible gilding wear.

Another example of exactly the same model, also mounted, but decorated with garlands of flowers and fruit instead of bunches of flowers, of very slightly later style, is in the Belvedere Collection, London. Unfortunately, that pot is broken and restored (see Gwilt, Joanna, Vincennes and early Sèvres porcelain from the Belvedere Collection, London, 2014, catalogue n° 53).