MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE SÈVRES. TWO HARD PORCELAIN... Lot 179

MANUFACTURE ROYALE DE SÈVRES.
TWO HARD PORCELAIN PENDANT VASES COMMISSIONED BY THE DUCHESSE DE BERRY IN 1821.
Two Medici-shaped vases of the 5th size, with a blue background, resting on a pedestal and a square base. Polychrome decoration in cartels framed by a gold fillet of views of the Château de Rosny, animated by characters, probably including the Duchesse de Berry herself.
The neck is embellished with a garland of pampers, the lower part with friezes of stylized flowers and gilded palmettes.
Marked: LL interlaced framing a fleur-de-lys, Sèvres 21.
Intaglio mark of SZ manufacture for 1816. Gilder, Melle Virginie Boullemier, active from 1814 to 1842. Mark in green on cover 12.m.21 (May 12, 1821 date set in colored background).
Louis XVIII period, year 1821.

H. 25.5 cm and 26.5 cm
Pedestals: H. 9 cm and H. 8.5 cm AJ

Condition.
Two chips under the neck of one and a chip, slight wear to the gold, defect with a scratch under a pedestal.

Provenance.
- Former collection of Marie-Caroline de Bourbon-Siciles, Duchesse de Berry (1798-1870).
- Public sale, Hôtel Drouot, May 10, 1865 under the ministry of Me Charles Pillet, catalog "des objets d'art et de curiosité provenant du Palais Vendramin, à Venise et appartenant à Mme la duchesse de Berry", the vases are described and identified under no. 164.
- Private collection.

Historical background.
A major patron of the arts under the Restoration, the Duchesse de Berry maintained close ties with the Manufacture Royale de Sèvres, from which she placed numerous orders for both utility and ceremonial objects.
On July 31, 1821, she ordered two small blue-backed Medici vases with gilded friezes, based on a model chosen in the store.
The pieces were delivered in January 1822 for the annual exhibition of the products of the royal manufactures.

For the ornamentation of these vases, Isidore-Laurent Deroy (Paris 1797- id. 1886) was commissioned to execute four colored landscape drawings, collected under the title "Vues de Rosny". Two of these compositions are now preserved in the archives of the Manufacture de Sèvres and correspond to the views shown on the present vases. Photos attached. They are reproduced in the exhibition catalog: Entre cour et jardin. Marie-Caroline, duchesse de Berry. Musée de l'Île-de-France. Sceaux 2007. Page 153 no. 107 and page 155 no. 111.

Bibliography :
Archives. Cité de la céramique. Sèvres.
- Registres des pièces de commandes. (Vtt2, folio 6) to July 31, 1821 with description "Pour S.A.R Mme la Dsse de Berry. 2 Vases Médicis 5e gr. fond bleu frise en or conforme a des vases qui sont au Magin avec vues de Rosny".

- Registre des pièces entrées au magasin de vente de la manufacture de Sèvres (Vv1 170v°53) December 22, 1821 with the description "2 Vases Médicis 5e gr. fond bleu, cartouche paysage, vues de Rosny, le prix de fabrication par pièce est de 233,10 frs et de 466,20 frs pour les deux, le prix de vente 250 frs l'un, 500 frs pour les deux".

- Registre livraison (Vbb6 folio 101) with the description "A S.A.R Madame La Duchesse de Berry livré pendant et à la suite de l'exposition. 2 vases Médicis form beautiful blue background landscape views of Rosny. Price 500frs".

-Register of painters' work (Vj' 28 folio 123 to 125).
Melle Boullemier wife Marentini.

Appraisal sheet for pieces entered in the sales store on December 1, 1821 (Pb5 registration no. 168: 53) with the description "2 Médicis vases 5eGr fond bleu frise au culot en or et glaçure. Bruni aplats".

Despite the absence of any visible painter's signature on these vases, research carried out in the painters' work registers (Vj' 28 folio 28) reveals, in December 1821, the entry "Mr Langlacé Paysagiste, 2 vases Médicis pour cartel de paysage vue du château de Rosny", enabling us to attribute the execution of the landscapes to him.
Jean-Baptiste-Gabriel Langlacé (1786-1864) active from 1806 to 1845. Specialist landscape painter.