Name/Title
Mantle Vases/Inventory French Mantel UrnsEntry/Object ID
100110Scope and Content
(AI) Old Paris porcelain mantle vases (known in French as Vieux Paris), dating to the mid-to-late 19th century (circa 1850–1880).
"Old Paris" isn't a single manufacturing company, but rather a blanket term for the fine, highly gilded porcelain produced by dozens of artisan workshops in and around Paris during the 1800s. These workshops vied to create highly decorative statement pieces for the growing middle and upper classes, and pairs of vases like these were designed specifically to sit symmetrically on a fireplace mantle or a grand sideboard.
Key Features & Artistry
The Romantic Narrative Scenes: The vases feature hand-painted, complementary scenes.
Left Vase: A classic Renaissance or Troubadour-style romantic scene showing a gentleman serenade-playing a lute or guitar for a lady seated in a garden.
Right Vase: A picturesque landscape painting featuring architectural ruins or a tower by a river, which sets the mood and backdrop for the romantic theme on the companion vase.
Heavy Bright Gilding: A hallmark of Old Paris porcelain is the lavish use of gold leaf gilding (gilt). You can see it thick on the flared rims, the pedestal bases, the lower body, and decorating the handles.
Ornate Figural Handles: The handles are stylized, molded scrollworks that add a dramatic, Neo-Classical flair to the shape of the vessels.
Square Plinth Bases: The vases rest on elevated, gilded square bases which give them a formal, sculptural presence.
Inventory French Mantel Urns - 8 1/2 damage $75.00