A pair of substantial French gilt bronze mounted cloisonné baluster vases in the Japonisme taste

A pair of substantial French gilt bronze mounted cloisonné baluster vases in the Japonisme taste, in the manner of examples by Maison Marnyhac, circa 1880, the everted rims with stylised foliate casting, the blue bodies with polychrome enamel depictions of butterflies and bouquets of flowers, on crosshatched surround and pierced metal base with feet modelled as four elephant masks, 51.5 cm high
CATALOGUE NOTES:
The present vases are fine examples of the Japanese-inspired technique of cloisonné enamelling, which became widespread in France during the second half of the nineteenth century (see the introductory note for a description of the technique). Though enamel vases were often imported from Japan and mounted in gilt bronze once they arrived in Europe, the vibrant colour and smooth texture of the body, not to mention the noticeably Western curled ribbons around the neat bouquets of flowers, point to the French manufacture of the present examples.