This vase is in the style of Sèvres porcelain known as ‘Etruscan’, due to the shape of its body and handles. The mouth, handles, and foot of the vase are made of gilded bronze, and its neck and body are decorated with flowers and fruits on a brown background. Its two bronze handles curve at the top, each culminating in two small parrots shown eating fruit from leafy branches.
The stamp on the mouth of the vase is identical to the Sèvres hallmark from the reign of King Louis Philippe I. This mark was used between 1834-1845, and includes the initials ‘LP’ referring to Louis Philippe, with a crown above them, the word ‘SÈVRES’ to the left, and a date to the right, all within two concentric circles. The date on the gold stamp reads ‘184[?]’.
The body of the vase depicts clusters of fruit and bouquets of flowers, with flowers being more predominantly featured on one side, and fruits on the other. The fruits and flowers appear to spill out of a partially visible basket, creating a
trompe-l’œil effect, an artistic term used to describe paintings that create an optical illusion. The side of the vase with more fruit shows grapes, peaches, strawberries, magnolias, and blue flowers hanging off of the sides of the basket, with a bee and a butterfly delicately landing on them. The side with more flowers features carnations and morning glories spilling out of the basket, along with pink and white tulips, commonly seen in
Dutch still-life paintings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, at the top of the dense bouquet. On the neck of the vase, purple morning glories are shown entwined in the weave of the basket.
