Pair of French Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Chinese Export Porcelain Vases

Product Description

A monumental and quite important pair of antique French Louis XVI style ormolu-mounted Chinese export porcelain vases. This exceptional pair of Louis XVI style porcelain vases are beautifully handcrafted and perched on ormolu-mounted bases, designed with a round base decorated with tender acanthus leaves around the rim of the base. Juxtaposed by a magnificently modeled and hand engraved Chinese export porcelain which was then all hand-painted with exquisite brush strokes and precision. The ormolu handles present prepossessing maidens holding up each handle with vine-like tails extending from their feet.
Hercules masks are decorated at the end of each spout located atop the ormolu. The magnificent porcelain has delicately hand modeled and engraved cranes and clouds, which signify longevity and peacefulness. As the prince of all feathered creatures, cranes hold a high stature in the animal kingdom, which represent the importance of these vases. The clouds drawn throughout the porcelain towards the heavens represent good luck and great fortune. This comes from the Chinese word “Yun” meaning luck, which also means clouds, but is pronounced slightly differently. The porcelain was made with the finest detail placed on each vase. Each porcelain vase was made in China for export in the late 1700s-early 1800s. The ormolu was later finely cast and hand-chiseled in Paris to be placed on the vases, in the early to mid 1800s. The incredible contrast between the majestic ormolu maidens and ardent hand-painted blue porcelain with cranes and clouds really brings this piece to new heights, in both aesthetics and quality, circa 1830-1850.

Height: 33.75 in (85.73 cm)
Diameter: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)