Louis XV Vase in powder blue porcelain of China

Vase in powder blue porcelain of China, with floral decoration in gold very altered, mounted in similor (alloy of zinc and brass imitating gold by its natural color).

The similor mounting is composed of several parts screwed on the porcelain. the base with its jagged and asymmetrical visual associating moldings, acanthus and openwork rocaille is typically from the 1740's-1750's. It continues along the body of the vase to form the handles with laurel branches as found on sconces made by François Thomas Germain in 1756 after Contant d'Ivry (Getty museum, Los Angeles). The handles are divided into two scrolls of foliage joining the lip of the vase also mounted in similor. The openwork lid is very neat with its clasps, cabbage leaves and flowers.
The similor is a rare material and an innovation of the 18th century. It was once used to compete with gold and gilt bronze. It is mentioned in particular in the eighteenth century for objects of "semi-luxury" which take the topoi of the most luxurious objects. Nowadays very few objects in this material have come down to us. They have therefore become rare and sought after.
Our object shows the inventiveness of the merchant-merchants, combining various materials to please an avid and varied clientele. It is also a rare witness of the "populuxe" which develops in margin of the great signs of "merchant-merchants jouailliers" such as Hébert, Darnault and Duvaux.

The gilded floral decoration has almost disappeared from the China vase. Very good general condition of the bronze.

Vase in China porcelain and imitation, powdered blue and gold from China, first half of the 18th century, mounted in Paris around 1750.
Size (H x W x D): 28 x 15 x 12,5 cm.