Louis XV Period Porcelain And Silver-gilt Perfume Fountain

France, around 1744–1750

Oriental porcelain mounted in vermeil and gilded bronze

Elegant and rare perfume fountain mounted under the reign of Louis XV, combining an 18th century Chinese meiping vase in cracked beige porcelain stoneware and rich vermeil frames.

The collar is surrounded by a finely cut vermeil frame, extended by a lid with redented leaves. The whole is surmounted by a superb agate socket cut in the shape of a pine cone, whose silhouette evokes, by its symbolism and geometry, the famous Pigna of the Vatican, once itself ornamented with a real fountain.

In the lower part, the fountain has an exceptional vermeil tap, featuring a floral button surrounded by leaves, from which the pouring tube emerges.

This faucet model corresponds exactly to that of Marie-Antoinette's perfume fountain preserved at the Louvre, illustrating a very rare type and very popular with collectors.

The base, in gilded bronze, indicates that the piece probably rested on a matching base, now missing, as often for 18th century mounted objects.

Awl

• Parrot head: discharge punch for the silver in force 1744–1750, confirming the dating Louis XV.

Assembled by merchants-merciers, these perfume fountains are among the most refined luxury objects of the 18th century, witnesses of the aristocratic taste for oriental porcelains sumptuously mounted in precious metals.

Dimensions

Height: 14.8 cm

Diameter: 5.5 cm

Weight: 245,2g

State

Very good condition.

— small original defect to the glaze;

— slight splinter at the grip;

— discreet deformation at the base in gilded bronze.