Pair of Large English Decoupage Chinoiserie Glass Vases

Description

Pair of Large English Decoupage Chinoiserie Glass Vases The pair is formed as large baluster form glass vases with a broad circular foot rising to a rounded body, narrowing at the neck, and terminating in a wide flared rim. Each surface is covered with applied decoupage decoration set against a pale ground, sealed beneath a clear glossy finish. On the main body of each vase, a large octagonal reserve with a red ground is bordered by a green band with floral motifs. Within this reserve, a standing female figure holds a vessel of fruit while a child figure presents a flowering branch. Surrounding these reserves, the exterior is densely arranged with scattered figural scenes, birds, insects, and flowering branches. Additional figures include standing scholars, attendants, and a warrior holding a sword, each rendered in varied costume. Smaller shaped panels depict interior scenes with multiple figures. The necks are decorated with architectural pavilions, birds in flight, and floral clusters, while butterflies and insects are distributed across the entire surface. The vases are identified as a pair of English decoupage chinoiserie glass vases. This type of decoration involves the application of printed or painted paper elements adhered to the glass surface and sealed with layers of varnish. The chinoiserie imagery reflects European interpretations of East Asian subjects, incorporating figures, landscape elements, and decorative motifs arranged in a continuous composition. Production of such vases relied on skilled assembly processes combining glass forming with layered surface application. The consistent alignment of the reserves, the density of the applied imagery, and the controlled placement of figures and motifs indicate careful planning in the decorative scheme. The use of multiple figural types, architectural elements, and botanical details across a large surface area reflects a complex decorative program, with the scale and execution supporting the high quality of the pair. Circa 1890

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