Antoine VECHTE (1800-1868)

A set of fragmentary models from the chaser's workshop, kept by his son-in-law, SCHMALZ, then by the painter Georges HAQUETTE (1852-1906), then by descent: 1/ Female figure adorning the handles of the unfinished vase in the Louvre. White plaster. Unsigned. Between 1862 and 1868. H. Approx. 24.5 cm. Formerly broken and reattached at the legs. Presented in a molded wood frame (unopened) painted in black and gold with curved glass (accidents and missing parts). In 1862, under the Second Empire, a vase was commissioned by the Minister of State Walewski from Antoine Vechte, as a counterpart to the silver vase known as "du Paradis perdu ou de la Création", already delivered by the silversmith in 1861 [Louvre Inv. OA 2612]. The sculptor's intention was to "represent success in peace and war in an allegorical and grandiose manner". Vechte died before completing the model for the vase, leaving behind a number of plaster models, including the one presented here. The Christofle firm was commissioned to reconstruct and interpret the work from the elements available. The vase was completed in 1869 and electroplated in silver-plated copper [Louvre, Inv. OA 2613]. Only the Peace side was decorated with figures based on Vechte's models, while the War side was left smooth. Christofle used the female figure shown here to decorate the vase's handles. [Louvre website. Département des Objets d'art du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes]. 2/ Keyboard for the sword donated by the city of Paris for the christening of the Count of Paris in 1840. Patinated plaster. Inscribed on the back "modelé par Klacmanne [sic] ciselé par a. vechte". 7.2 x 9.8 cm. Hole in upper part; accidents, formerly glued back, chips and missing parts. The design was by Jules Klagmann. The chasing was done by Antoine Vechte, the setting of the stones by the jeweler Fossin, the blade by Henri Lepage. The sword is now in the Musée Carnavalet, Paris. 3/ Female figure adorning the handles of the "Lord Ellesmere" vase of Love and Psyche. Plaster, armed with brass wire. Unsigned. H. 15.2 cm. Wear, chips and head formerly glued back. This vase was presented at the 1867 Universal Exhibition and reproduced in "The Illustrated catalog of the Universal Exhibition", published with the Art journal, edited by S.C. Hill, p. 109. 4/ Female figure holding a child, adorning the handles of the "Lord Ellesmere" vase of Love and Psyche. Patinated plaster, armed with brass wire. Unsigned. H. 10.5 cm. Worn, damaged and missing, and part formerly glued back together. 5/ Articulated bracelet decorated with medallions on mythological subjects, including the abduction of Dejanira, the she-wolf suckling Romus and Romulus.... Patinated plaster. Unsigned. 5.7 x 21.5 x 2.2 cm. Wear, minor accidents and missing parts 6/ Domed cameo depicting a combat of characters. Patinated plaster. 4.5 x 6.3 x 2.2 cm. Wear and tear. ATTACHED : Four iron and wood chasing hammers. As is. Provenance: - Descendants of painter Georges HAQUETTE (1852-1906). - Antoine VECHTE (1800-1868) was the grandfather of Lucie SCHMALZ, Georges Haquette's second wife.