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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES |
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A fine pair of Classical style jasper vases, each with a waisted neck flanked by integral angular handles, the tapering ovoid body on a waisted circular foot North European, date circa 1825-50 Height 24 cm. each. The Marques de Bellpuig, Castillo de Bendinat Mallorca owned two pairs of alabaster vases of similar form (sold Sotheby’s London, 12th June 2002, lots 357 and 358). The shape of the vases, based on antique Greek pots, and the practice of cutting hardstones goes back to the Louis-Marie-Augustine 5th duc d’Aumont (1709-82), premier valet de chambre du Roi, who with Queen Marie-Antoinette shared a passion for ancient and precious hardstones. In his position as premier gentilhomme de la chambre du Roy he established a workshop in the Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs for the cutting and polishing of precious marbles and embellishing them with gilt bronze mounts. Throughout northern Europe the vogue for reproducing Antique style pots and vases continued well into the nineteenth century. |