Pair of Empire vases; Old Paris, France, early 20th century.

Pair of Empire vases; Old Paris, France, early 20th century.
Enameled, gilded and glazed porcelain.
Measurements: 39,5 x 20,5 x 13,5 cm.
The Porcelain of Paris, also called Old Paris, is a denomination that groups the production of a series of minor manufactures established in Paris from the last quarter of the 18th century until the end of the 19th century. The first factories appeared around 1770, following the discovery of a kaolin deposit in Limoges. During the 18th century, the so-called Paris Porcelain was that manufactured and decorated in Paris, although in the 19th century, pieces manufactured in the provinces and decorated in the capital were also included. The production will be homogeneous in all factories, with good kaolin paste and golden decorations, used with royal permission, although it will not be the gold of Sèvres law until the French Revolution, when the monarchy disappears and with it the royal privileges of the factories of the crown. It was precisely the date of the Revolution that marked the beginning of the expansion of Paris Porcelain; production increased, with pieces that followed the stylistic and typological models of Sèvres, important technical improvements were achieved and a new and thriving clientele was supplied: the bourgeoisie. Following the Sèvres models, colored backgrounds (dark blues, browns, blacks, yellows, oranges...), gilded motifs and figurative decorations of pictorial quality dominated. The influence of the Louis XIV style will also be important in these factories, already in the 19th century, not only in the decorations but also in the typologies.

COMMENTS

This lot can be seen at the Setdart Madrid Gallery located at C/Velázquez, 7.