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Pair of vases

porcelain mid-18th century, mounts ca. 1740–50
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 527
The blue-green celadon vases have the Chinese character shou meaning “long life” in low relief on their body. Originally even taller, these vases have been cut down and were mounted in Paris with scrolled and pierced handles, lip, and base. These mounts have been compared to work by Jean-Claude Duplessis père (ca. 1695-1774) a talented goldsmith, gilt-bronze worker, and porcelain designer. Duplessis’s name occurs regularly in the Livre-Journal or account book of the dealer Lazare Duvaux’s for the ten-year period of 1748-1758. In September of 1750, for instance, he sold the Marquis de Voyer d’Argenson a pair of large celadon porcelain vases mounted by Duplessis in gilt bronze for 3000 livres. This exceptionally high price indicates that the vases must have been of great importance, just like the Museum’s pair.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Pair of vases
  • Date: porcelain mid-18th century, mounts ca. 1740–50
  • Culture: Chinese with French mounts
  • Medium: Hard-paste porcelain, gilt-bronze mounts
  • Dimensions: Each: H. 15-1/16 x W. 10-7/8 x D. 6-1/4 in. (38.3 x 27.6 x 15.9 cm)
  • Classification: Metalwork-Gilt Bronze
  • Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1984
  • Object Number: 1984.471.3, .4
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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