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 Basket
Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation Collection
Acquisition
Accession
58.27.
Source or Donor
Pinckney, Miss Josephine
Acquisition Method
Bequest
Credit Line
Bequest of Miss Josephine Pinckney
Made/Created
Date made
1800 - 1810
Place
Location
France
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Epergne
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Stand, Serving
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Serving Vessels
Nomenclature Class
Food Service T&E
Nomenclature Category
Category 04: Tools & Equipment for Materials
Dimensions
Height
18-3/4 in
Depth
7-3/4 in
Material
Porcelain, Hard-paste
Location
Location
Room
303
Building
Nathaniel Russell House
Category
Permanent
Date
February 7, 2023
Location
Room
303
Building
Nathaniel Russell House
Category
Permanent
Moved By
Sarah Ferguson
Date
November 3, 2022
Location
Room
103
Building
Nathaniel Russell House
Category
Permanent
Moved By
SJ
Date
July 27, 2004
Location
Building
NR DINING ROOM
Moved By
June Hawkins
Date
June 26, 2002
Condition
Overall Condition
Good
Notes
Feet Tend To Come Loose and Have Been Reglued. Two Caryatids Have a Missing Foot. Small Chips on Base Edge.
Overall Condition
Good
Notes
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
Good
Conservation
Treatment
Conservator
Bradshaw and awhelan
Notes
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: 430
Treatment
Conservator
Lawrence Bradshaw
Notes
Scope of work: Cleaned and repaired
Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Pinckney, Josephine Lyons Scott
Related Entries
Notes
58.27.7
Provenance
Notes
Last Owner: Pinckney Family
General 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: 172005
