Name/Title
Sevres EpergneEntry/Object ID
58.27.6Description
Sevres Factory (1756-present)
Epergne
France
ca. 1810
Hard-paste porcelain
Sevres Porcelain Eperge Consisting of Round Reticulated Basket Supported By Three Draped Caryatids (Graces) with Arms Crossed Over Breasts. Caryatids Stand on Round Base Raised on Three Claw Feet. Bodies of Caryatids Are Unglazed. Gilt Drapes and Headbands, Gilt Bands on Basket and Base. Gilt Raised Leaf Decoration on Base and BasketCollection
Historic Charleston Foundation CollectionAcquisition
Accession
58.27.Source or Donor
Pinckney, Miss JosephineAcquisition Method
BequestCredit Line
Bequest of Miss Josephine PinckneyLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
EpergneNomenclature Primary Object Term
Stand, ServingNomenclature Sub-Class
Serving VesselsNomenclature Class
Food Service T&ENomenclature Category
Category 04: Tools & Equipment for MaterialsDimensions
Height
18-3/4 inDepth
7-3/4 inMaterial
Porcelain, Hard-pasteLocation
Location
Room
303Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Room
303Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseCategory
PermanentMoved By
Sarah FergusonDate
November 3, 2022Location
Room
103Building
Nathaniel Russell HouseCategory
PermanentMoved By
SJDate
July 27, 2004Moved By
June HawkinsDate
June 26, 2002Condition
Overall Condition
GoodNotes
Feet Tend To Come Loose and Have Been Reglued. Two Caryatids Have a Missing Foot. Small Chips on Base Edge.Overall Condition
GoodNotes
Base:
One foot to base separated and two intact. All were previously bonded with epoxy resin with large screws acting as dowels. Tape adhesive residues on the base around the mark. Bolts and washers attaching the base, figures and compote are loose and the figures rotate easily out of alignment. There are two chips along the base edge.
Figures:
Two of the three figures are missing their proper left feet. Parian and gilt figures are soiled. THe figure with two feet has one foot with a degree of discoloration which may be a firing fault.
Compote:
Compote is in good condition, but loose resting on the heads of the Graces. Minor rusting and soiling on the glazed areas.Overall Condition
GoodConservation
Treatment
Conservator
Bradshaw and awhelanNotes
Scope of work: Treatment:
The component parts were dismantled and screw armatures were removed from the figures. The intact feet to the base were removed by picking out the plaster fills and unscrewing the dowels. An application of jellied methylene chloride based paint stripper was applied to the feet to soften the epoxy resin. Once separated, residues were removed with further applications of the same. All parts were cleaned in enzyme detergent (Biotex) and engrained dirt removed with a steam wand. We attempted to lighten the discoloration on the foot with a peroxide poultice. There was no improvemnet leading us to believe that this is a firing fault from the original high fire or subsequent gilt firing. Areas of rust were removed with glass paper.
The three supporting feet to the base were reattached first by inserting an epoxy putty (Milliput Superfine White) dowel in the hole passing through the foot and into the base and adhered with Hxtal NYL epoxy resin. The dowel is preferred to metal as it is weaker than porcelain and will more easily separate in the event of a hard impact. A metal dowel would cause more damage as it would break through the porcelain rather than separate.
The missing feet to the figures were remodeled by first taking silicone moulds from the original left foot. The new feet were cast with Hxtal NYL epoxy resin, fumed silica to bulk the resin and dry pigments to tint to match. THe cured feet were tooled to fit the breaks and bonded with Hxtal NYL resin. The resulting gaps were filled with the same matching Hxtal gel. The left foot of one figure was retouched with Rustin's two-part urea formaldehyde melamine paint medium with dry pigments to match the discolored right foot.
In order to prevent loose play and twisting of the figures against the base and the compote we applied a thin glaze of 100% silicone caulk at the contact points- the top of heads and bottoms of feet of each Grace. THis provides a mechanical grip and some cushion between the figures, the base and compote.
Cost: 430Treatment
Conservator
Lawrence BradshawNotes
Scope of work: Cleaned and repairedRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Pinckney, Josephine Lyons ScottProvenance
Notes
Last Owner: Pinckney FamilyGeneral Notes
Note
Notes: Donor makes a possible reference to the epergne in her novel, "Three O'Clock Dinner" when one of the main characters brings down the white and gold epergne for the special wedding celebration.
Status: OK
Location Details1: 1
User10: 172005Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
January 21, 1998Updated By
sferguson@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
May 1, 2023