Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory (French, late 19th century) Pair of Lidded Vases Porcelain with polychrome and gilt decoration 28 in. tall
The Sèvres manufactory was celebrated throughout Europe for producing porcelain of exceptional quality and refinement, often commissioned by royalty and aristocracy. These large vases embody the historicist taste of the late 19th century, when scenes of 18th-century leisure were nostalgically revived as emblems of refinement and elegance. On one side, finely painted courting couples in garden settings evoke the pastoral romance of Watteau and Fragonard, while the reverse landscapes recall the idealized visions of nature so admired in French decorative art. The cobalt ground, overlaid with intricate gilt scrollwork, frames the imagery with opulent effect, while the distinctive acorn finials crown their impressive presence.
