137 - Pair of Sèvres porcelain and gilt bronze vases, France, first half of the 19th century

Pair of Sèvres porcelain and gilt bronze vases, France, first half of the 19th century Height 53 cm Amphora-shaped body with a turquoise background accented in gold, decorated with cupids within a gilded border featuring plant motifs, complemented by a vibrant composition of multicolored flowers on the opposite side. On the sides are gilt bronze ram’s heads, from which rises a long stem ending in a curl, around which vine shoots with bunches of grapes are wrapped. The upper rim is decorated with gilt bronze roses; the spool-shaped base is supported by plant motifs joined by floral garlands. This pair of vases is part of 19th-century French Neo-Rococo production, inspired by 18th-century models from the Sèvres Manufactory, particularly the use of a “bleu céleste” turquoise background, the figurative panels featuring cupids, and the rich gilding. Compared to 18th-century examples, the gilded bronze frames are more elaborate and dramatic, reflecting a typical 19th-century aesthetic and characteristic of Parisian production intended for ceremonial furnishings.