A Large Pair of French Palace-Size Sèvres Biscuit Porcelain Royal Sphinx Figures

Description

A Gorgeous & Rare Pair of French Palace-Sized Sèvres Biscuit Porcelain Royal Sphinx Figures with Incised Sèvres Marks. These large Sèvres biscuit porcelain figures depict a complementary pair of royal sphinxes modeled with the upper torsos of elegantly dressed women combined with recumbent feline bodies. Each figure is positioned on an oblong porcelain base with the forelegs crossed and the heads turned slightly outward, creating a mirrored arrangement when displayed as a pair. The draped garments are arranged across the shoulders and upper body, showing layered folds and lace-patterned borders. The transition from the human torso to the animal body is defined by a band tied with bows at the hips, with tassels placed along the drapery resting over the forequarters. The feline forms show rounded haunches, long tails curving along the flank, and clearly shaped paws resting on the front edge of the base. The surfaces retain the matte white appearance characteristic of biscuit porcelain, allowing the detailed modeling of the faces, hair, fabric folds, and tasselled cushions under the paws to be seen clearly. The pair bears incised Sèvres marks on the undersides of the bases. The marks are placed within the interior hollow of each figure and appear clearly preserved. Sèvres is documented for producing biscuit porcelain sculpture in a wide range of forms, including mythological subjects and figures derived from courtly portraiture, and these sphinxes align with the workshop’s tradition of high-quality portrait busts and sculptural groups. The production of large biscuit porcelain sculpture at Sèvres required the use of multipart molds, controlled drying, and specialized firing procedures suited to dense sculptural forms. The size of these sphinxes reflects the manufactory’s capability in producing substantial decorative figures intended for palatial interiors, where mythological and allegorical subjects were often displayed in pairs. France, Circa: 1870

Details

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