Fine Blue Earthenware Cup With Floral Decoration, Gilded Bronze Mounting, Sarreguemines, 19th Century

Spectacular Napoleon III Period Blue Porcelain and Gilt Bronze Bowl Sarreguemines, circa 1870 Rare and important Sarreguemines porcelain centerpiece bowl, a deep cobalt blue, enhanced with a delicate Japanese floral decoration. Hand-painted flowers, leaves and branches unfold with subtle gold and silver highlights, testifying to great finesse of execution. The porcelain is enhanced by a sumptuous and very rich chased and mercury-gilt bronze mount. This presents a refined alternation of matte and glossy finishes which accentuates the complexity of its details. The gilding is original and in a remarkable state of preservation. Marks and Signatures: • Porcelain: The manufacturer's mark "SARREGUEMINES" is affixed under the cup, accompanied by the model number 1191 A. • Bronzes: The founder's mark "EH" is stamped on the inside of the chimera-shaped feet. Dimensions: • Height: 41 cm • Width: 34 cm • Depth: 34 cm Period XIX typical Napoleon III circa 1870 neo-classical style. Condition report: Superb condition, exceptional original Mercury gilding with a magnificent play of matt and shiny throughout. Complete, No accidents. No restorations. Magnificent painted decoration with gold and silver highlights with a deep and very powerful cobalt blue. Tiny traces of use and age. Architectural Description: This ceremonial piece is distinguished by its elaborate and harmonious structure: • Upper Part: A slender vase crowns the whole. It is flanked by two lateral handles sculpted as lion heads with imposing manes. From their jaws escape antique drapes, finely detailed down to the trimmings. The neck of the vase is surrounded by an openwork gallery, decorated with a ring with palmette and interlacing motifs. The main face of the vase takes up the Japanese floral decoration, enhanced with gold and silver. • Central Support: The vase rests on three majestic winged chimeras. Their bodies are richly decorated with moldings, drapes and floral scrolls, giving the piece a great presence. • Lower Bowl: In the center, a large and deep circular bowl displays a painted decoration of gold and silver flowers, faithful to the Japanese spirit of the time. The edge of this bowl is also decorated with an openwork gallery decorated with stylized lilies. • Base: The whole rests on an elegant tripod base. Each foot, representing a clawed lion's paw, is topped with stylized acanthus leaves. An openwork spacer, with a grid pattern and various moldings, ensures stability and completes the aesthetic of this exceptional work. Biblio: Deep blue is considered the favorite color of ceramics from Persia, a culture that greatly interested the earthenware makers of the second half of the 19th century. Sarreguemines Manufactory: Although the Sarreguemines Manufactory was founded in 1790, the arrival of Paul Utzschneider as director of the factory in 1799 marked the beginning of the establishment's reputation. From then on, the factory developed and diversified its production: fine earthenware, porcelain stoneware, and decorative majolica tiles. Majolica brought fame to the establishment, making Sarreguemines one of the most important earthenware centers in Europe. In the world of fine decoration, the artistic direction of Sarreguemines has always followed fashion and the most avant-garde trends. Thus, orientalist tendencies are found in the production of the Romantic years (1830-1840), while the Japanese universe is widely represented between 1860 and 1900. Similarly, the vogue for seaside resorts gave rise to a significant production with aquatic and marine themes from the 1880s. Provenance: Private Collection Colis Monde extra secure. Tracking number and notifications.