03 août 2009

From a Neoclassical vase and about 18th century Wedgwood black basalt

18th century Wedgwood black basalt neoclassical vase. England. circa 1775

Elegant 18th century Wedgwood neoclassical black basalt vase. Signed, with impressed 'Wedgwood' mark. Jubilee exhibition label. height: 22.86 cm (9 in.) width/length: 10.16 cm (4 3/4) Price $1,600

Provenance: The Zeitlin Collection.

Note: Black basalt was a form of stoneware developed by Josiah Wedgwood in 18th century England. The name derives from the color black and the prevailng taste for Grand Tour, neoclassical objets and art.

Andrew Spindler Antiques, 163 Main Street, Essex, MA 01929 United States of America - E-Mail: info@spindlerantiques.com

Two Wegwood black basalt was sold at Christie's last january :

Two Wedgwood black basalt encaustic-decorated two-handled vases , circa 1780, one incised no2

The krater-formed vase decorated with red figures between key-pattern and leaf borders, the oviform example with bifurcated bracket-handles and bacchic mask terminals, decorated in red, white and black enamels with Etruscan figures below a band of anthemion on a key-pattern band, damages and repairs. 12 7/8 in. (32.7 cm.) high; and 16 7/8 in. (42.9 cm.) high (2) Est. £800 - £1,200. Sold £3,250 ($4,501)

Notes : The print source for these vases is P. F. d'Hancarville, Collection of Etruscan, Greek and Roman Antiquities from the Cabinet of the Honble William Hamilton, published in Naples in 1766-7. The subject of the krater vase is Hippothon, Antiochus and Clymenos, taken from the left hand side of plate 129 of volume I of the 1776 edition, used for the decoration of Wedgwood & Bentley's First Day's Vases.

Christie's. Lord St Helens And Sir William Fitzherbertthe Collections Of A Diplomat And A Courtier. 22 January 2009. London King Street www.christies.com

Some others résults for 18th century Wegwood black basalt neo classical from www.antiqforum.com

'Three Graces' Vase, 11½". Good cond. 1775, Jul'04. Skinner. $4,300

Basalt Vase and cover, 6 5/8". Perfect cond. 1775, Jul'04. Skinner. $3,100

Vase and cover, 11". Good cond. c1780, Dec'03. Sotheby's. $8,000

Vase, 5". Cover missing. c1775. May'00. Skinner. $740

Pair of Wedgwood & Bentley Vases, 3½". No lids. Handle damaged. 18c. Nov'02. Sotheby's. $750

Vase, 8". Cover missing. 18c, Aug'02. eBay. $1,050

Old Wedgwood.
Among collectors the term Old Wedgwood is taken to refer to wares produced before Josiah's death in 1795. Old Wedgwood is difficult to date. The first examination is of the piece itself. Old Wedgwood has a character of its own. It is finely crafted and just feels old. It is impossible to convey that quality in either words or photographs. The only way to gain an appreciation of the character of Old Wedgwood is to examine it, with the eye and with the finger tips. Take every opportunity to do so at shows and auctions. 

The Potters Mark.
The next recourse is to the mark. Josiah started marking his production with his name in about 1759, impressing the name into the underside of the article with printer's movable type. The resulting mark was often uneven and sometime arced. In about 1769 he adopted the familiar mark with the name impressed from a single slug. the WEDGWOOD mark is found on useful wares between 1769 and 1781 and on all wares produced thereafter until the sans serif version of the mark was introduced in 1929.

WEDGWOOD and BENTLEY.
It was in 1769 that he formed two partnerships, Wedgwood and Bentley produced decorative ware with his good friend, Thomas Bentley. Their production is marked with one or the other of the several versions of the Wedgwood and Bentley mark. Useful wares were produced with his cousin, Thomas Wedgwood and bear the WEDGWOOD mark.

THE LETTER/NUMBER CODES.
In 1860 the Wedgwood factory started marking its wares with the date of manufacture impressed in each piece as part of a three letter code. The first letter of the code represents the month of manufacture, the second identified the potter who threw the shape and the last letter signifying the year the piece was made starting with 0 for 1860. The series was repeated 4 times. From 1907 on in the third series the first letter for the month is replaced by a 3 and with the fourth series commencing with A in 1924 with the figure 4. There is an area of confusion in wares in the first two series. For example TOT could mean a piece produced in either June 1865 or June of 1891. Commencing in 1929 the year mark is replaced by th last to digits of the year, 30 standing for 1930.

February, April, September, October, November and December are always show by their intial letter. June is always T and August is always W. In 1860-1863 March is M, May is Y and July is V. In 1864 March becomes R, May is M and July is L. In 1871 Wedgwood adopted pattern numbers with the code letter prefixes. I bought a small Queens Ware creamer at a flea market thinking from its style and shape to be quite old has the pattern number A1820 on its bottom. The impressed marks are badly filled in with the glaze and are almost obscured. The last figure in the three letter code is probably an O and the first two letters are impossible to read. Since the prefixed code was not introduced until 1871 I date the piece at 1886. www.thepotteries.org

22 juillet 2009

Three pairs of Sèvres black-ground chinoiserie in The Royal Collection

Sèvres. Pair of mounted vases (vase à monter) c.1785. Hard-paste porcelain, gilt bronze mounts, onyx stand. Overall height 35 cm; dimensions excluding stand 32.7 x 19.2 x 12.8 cm. Purchased by George IV. RCIN 253.2. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 

The elegance and beauty of these vases lies in the skilful combination of a simple form, mottled brown-black ground in simulation of lacquer and finely chased gilt bronze mounts, including mermaid figures and lion’s paw monopodia.

The vases resemble an annotated drawing that survives in the manufactory archives, dated 14 March 1785. Designed by Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809), this vase was intended to be fitted with mounts supplied by Pierre-Philippe Thomire: Vase Serpent Boizot fait pour Monte par Monsieur Tomire.

The vases were displayed at Carlton House under protective glass domes. (Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009)

Sèvres. Pair of mounted vases, 1789-90. Hard-paste porcelain, decorated in platinum and two tones of gold, gilt bronze mounts. 1 33.5 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm .2 33.7 x 11.5 x 11.5 cm. Acquired by George IV, possibly from the dealer, Robert Fogg, in 1812. RCIN 2344.1-2. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 

The inspiration for this model may have been one of the so-called Etruscan vases sold to Louis XVI by Vivant Denon (1747-1825) in 1786. This collection was placed on deposit at Sèvres to provide inspiration for the artists and sculptors. Only one other pair of vases of this form is known.

The fashion for black-ground chinoiserie scenes at Sèvres, variously described as fond noir or fond écaille, reflected the taste for oriental-inspired decoration and reached its height between 1790 and 1793. A possible source for the two figures worshipping a monkey seated on a column is an engraving published in 1759 by Pierre-Charles Canot (b.1710) after Jean-Baptiste Pillement.

The prevailing neo-classical style is represented by the gilded swags and garlands and scrolling arabesques, which, stylistically, are close to the gilt bronze mounts fitted to furniture in the Louis XVI style.

On left-hand vase: painted in gold: interlaced LLs, with (on either side) (?)M, forming the date-letters (?)MM for 1789. On right-hand vase: painted in gold: interlaced LLs with (on either side) n, forming the date-letters nn for 1790. (Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009)

Sèvres. Pair of mounted pot-pourri vases (vase à monter) c.1790. Hard-paste porcelain, decorated in platinum and two tones of gold, gilt bronze mounts. 1 42 x 33.9 x 20.6 cm .2 42.7 x 34 x 20.7 cm. Possibly bought by George IV from the dealer, Robert Fogg, in 1815 for £157 10s. RCIN 2347.1-2. The Royal Collection © 2009, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 

The fanciful oriental scenes are rendered in two tones of gold and platinum on a black ground. The vases probably conform to designs provided by the marchand mercier dealer/decorator, Dominique Daguerre, who would have added the bespoke gilt bronze mounts.

The known sources for chinoiserie decoration on black ground Sèvres porcelain, introduced at the factory c.1790, include engravings after designs by Jean-Baptiste Pillement, Cantonese lacquer patterns, Chinese woodcuts and debased generic chinoiserie scenes. In this instance, two scenes on the vases are taken from engravings by Jean-Jacques Avril (1771-1835) after Pillement, published in the series Cahier de Balançoires Chinoises.

The use of platinum on a black ground, as a substitute for silver (which tarnishes), was a technical innovation introduced at Sèvres c.1789. It was used extensively in the 1790s on black ground vases and tableware decorated with chinoiserie scenes.

Painted on both, in gold: crowned interlaced LLs, flanked by the letters G and I (G omitted on one vase), the mark of the gilder Etienne-Gabriel Girard. (Text adapted from French Porcelain for English Palaces, Sèvres from the Royal Collection, London, 2009)

20 juillet 2009

Black teabowl, 2007. By Hosokawa Morihiro (b. 1938) Japan, Heisei period (1989–)

Black teabowl, 2007. By Hosokawa Morihiro (b. 1938) Japan, Heisei period (1989–) Raku ware. Glazed earthenware. Collection of the artist, H2 © Shinchōsha Publishing Co, Ltd. Photo by Nonaka Akio.

26 avril 2009

Three Etruscan Bucchero ware vessels. Circa 7th Century B.C.

Three Etruscan Bucchero ware vessels. Circa 7th Century B.C.

A chalice, the bowl decorated with three grooved bands and a notched ridge beneath, on a hollow flared foot; and two olpes of carinated form, with high strap handles, the necks decorated with three grooved bands, the bodies tapering in to the flat base, one with further incised bands around the lower body 5¾in-6½in (14.5cm-16.5cm), one vessel repaired (3) - Estimate: £500 - 700

Bonhams. Antiquities, 29 Apr 2009. New Bond Street www.bonhams.com (Copyright © 2002-2009 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved)

08 février 2009

A French Porcelain Later-Decorated Gilt And Black Ground Etruscan Bottle Cooler, First Half 19th Century

A French Porcelain Later-Decorated Gilt And Black Ground Etruscan Bottle Cooler, First Half 19th Century

Green Painted 'D2.S' And Incised Script 'L.D.' And 'L.M.', 11in. (28cm.) over handles. Estimate $400 - $600

Christie's Interiors. 9 - 10 February 2009. New York, Rockefeller Plaza www.christie's.com Image Christie's Ltd 2009

Paire d'amphores à figures noires. Étrurie, début du Ve siècle av. J.- C.

Paire d'amphores à figures noires. Étrurie, début du Ve siècle av. J.- C.

Les panses sont peintes pour l'une, sur chaque face, de deux jeunes hommes courant, et pour l'autre, d'une femme courant, les bras couverts de longs voiles. Riche décor de palmettes sous les anses. (2 objets). Terre cuite vernissée noir. (petits éclats de vernis). Hauteur : 22 cm.

Auraient été découvertes en 1886.

Vente du Jeudi 12 février 2009. Poupées Kachina, Art Islamique, Art d'Amérique du Nord, Art de la Chine. Rossini - 75009 Paris

29 août 2008

Vase en porcelaine laquée. Chine. Fin du XVIIIe ou début du XIXe siècle.

Vase en porcelaine laquée. Chine. Fin du XVIIIe ou début du XIXe siècle.

Le fond noir à décor doré de feuillages et fleurs sur des fonds vermiculés. Le col légèrement évasé. Fine monture de bronze ciselé et doré à palmettes. (Restaurations). Haut. 37 cm – Diam. 24 cm  - Estimation : € 4,000-6,000

Provenance :Ancienne collection Pierre Saque, n° 1379, 12 avenue George V.

Tajan. La Chine et ses influences. Vente du jeudi 18 septembre 2008. Espace Tajan. www.tajan.com

27 juin 2008

Manufacture de Creil. Tasse et Sous-tasse en Grès Fin Noir dit Basalte

Manufacture de Creil. Tasse et Sous-tasse en Grès Fin Noir dit Basalte. Marque en creux "Creil". Environ 1810. Vendue sur ebay 262,50 € + 7,50 € le 26 juin 2008 à "ombelline75" par "acantholimon".

14 juin 2008

CREIL en creux (vers 1820) Partie de service à café

CREIL en creux (vers 1820) Partie de service à café

composé de quatre tasses litron, cinq soucoupes, une tasse à lait, un pot à lait, en grès fin noir,à motifs de plissé. Estimation : 1 300 / 1 500 €

Pescheteau-Badin - Paris. Porcelaines - Faïences. Vente du Lundi 16 Juin 2008

09 juin 2008

Pot cylindrique à fond plat à épaulement oblique et large ouverture. Chine, Dynastie Song. 960 à 1279

Pot cylindrique à fond plat à épaulement oblique et large ouverture. Chine, Dynastie Song. 960 à 1279

serti d'une paire d'anses double. Grès porcelaineux à glaçure monochrome noire. Ht 15cm x diam 16cm. Estimation : 400 / 500 €

Giafferi - Paris. Art d'Asie. Vente du Lundi 09 Juin 2008