Large Centerpiece In Blue Sèvres Porcelain With Rich Empire Gold Decoration

Important ceremonial centerpiece including a covered soup tureen and its display stand in Sèvres blue and matte gold Museum piece Condition: extraordinary state of conservation but I note two small accidents on the inside of the lid and 2 tiny accidents the size of a pinpoint on the inside edge of the display stand. The gold decoration is extraordinarily fresh Dimensions: 34cm wide & 25cm high Marks: The display stand bears the 1943 mark of the Manfacture de Sèvres, the soup tureen bears the 1915 mark of the Manufactrure de Sèvres. This covered soup tureen and its display stand constitute a brilliant example of the know-how of the Manufacture de Sèvres at the beginning of the 20th century. Created in 1915 for the soup tureen and in 1943 for the display stand, this combination of two pieces from distinct periods illustrates the Manufacture's ability to harmonize creations that are distant in time, in order to compose a prestigious and perfectly coherent ensemble. Sèvres blue, a prestigious setting The deep blue background, known as Sèvres blue, is one of the most famous and most difficult enamels to obtain. Its velvety, almost nocturnal depth, acts as a sumptuous setting for the gold highlights. This contrast, a signature of the Manufacture, gives the whole a timeless majesty and elegance. A refined Empire decoration The gilded decoration, executed with remarkable precision, is directly inspired by the antique ornamental vocabulary brought back into fashion by the Empire style. The frieze of stylized palmettes, punctuated by volutes and geometric motifs, runs along the belly of the soup tureen and the edge of the display stand. It is framed with gold threads and stylized chains, creating a layering of decorative registers that enriches the composition without overloading it. The tureen: monumentality and balance The tureen adopts a round, covered shape, with two scrolled side handles, finely enhanced with gold. The lid is topped with a central spherical knob, also decorated with gold threads and surrounded by a radiating motif. Every detail testifies to the virtuosity of the Sèvres artisans, capable of working gold with perfect regularity on curved surfaces. The display: a magnifying base The display, decorated in 1943, faithfully reproduces the same ornamental vocabulary, with a wide frieze of gilded palmettes running around its perimeter. Its concentric composition, alternating plain areas and gilded circles, draws the eye towards the center and highlights the tureen when it rests there. Far from being a simple accessory, it acts as a base that elevates the piece to the rank of a monumental centerpiece. A prestigious work The combination of this 1915 soup tureen and its 1943 display stand illustrates the continuity of the Manufacture de Sèvres in the production of prestigious objects, often intended for official or diplomatic commissions. The ensemble, with its brilliance and refinement, embodies both the decorative tradition inherited from the Empire style and the modernity of Sèvres' expertise in the 20th century.