Pair Ormolu Mounted 'Pate sur Pate' Porcelain Lamps Depicting Cupids

Description

A pair of celadon porcelain vases decorated in the pâte-sur-pâte technique and mounted with French gilt bronze. The decoration depicts cupids engaged in a game resembling tennis, executed in high-relief white slip over the celadon ground. The figures are modeled with detailed wings, drapery, and facial features, and their poses capture a sense of movement. The pâte-sur-pâte technique is applied with precision, building up thin layers to create depth and translucency in the design. The surrounding celadon glaze provides contrast and enhances the clarity of the white decoration. The vases have a celadon ground with translucent white pâte-sur-pâte decoration, a method perfected by Marc-Louis Solon at the Sèvres manufactory around 1850. Solon later worked in England, where under his direction Minton’s Porcelain Manufactory produced large quantities of pâte-sur-pâte wares. The refinement of the translucent reliefs and the quality of the porcelain suggest a French origin, possibly from the Sèvres workshops during the mid to late 19th century. The gilt bronze mounts consist of sculptural handles, acanthus collars, and molded base rings, all finely chased and gilded. The mounts are in the French tradition of the 19th century, complementing the porcelain without overpowering it. The combination of the soft celadon ground, pâte-sur-pâte decoration, and gilded mounts reflects the technical achievements of French porcelain production during this period. The subject matter of cupids at play introduces an element of lightheartedness, while the form and mounting indicate the pieces were intended for display in formal interiors.

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