Bourdois & Bloch French Porcelain Lace Group “musical Couple”

An elegant French porcelain lace group produced by the Paris atelier of M.E. Clauss/Bourdois & Bloch, circa 1868–1887. The composition reflects the refined Rococo Revival taste of the Second Empire period and combines sculptural modelling with elaborate porcelain lace decoration.

The scene depicts a standing gentleman beside a seated young lady behind a harp. The unusually tall harp creates a stronger sculptural presence than is typically found in smaller Paris porcelain lace groups and gives the piece a sophisticated decorative character.

Executed in glazed hard-paste porcelain with biscuit porcelain lacework, the group uses the traditional French “porcelain lace” technique in which real lace was coated in porcelain slip and burned away during firing.

The underside bears the underglaze crossed-swords mark used by the Paris porcelain atelier of M.E. Clauss, later associated with Bourdois & Bloch. Historical references record that the workshop specialised in luxury porcelain produced for the Paris bourgeois market, with porcelain bodies likely supplied from Limoges. The company later continued under the Porcelaine de Paris name.

Dimensions:
Height 16.7 cm
Width 12 cm
Depth 10.5 cm
Weight 582 g

Condition:
The gentleman is missing the fingernail on the little finger of the right hand and there are minor damages to the lace decoration. Otherwise magnificent antique condition with very well preserved enamels and gilding.

Please study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. It is important to note that shipping costs include labour, packaging and postage.