Flower vase (cuvette)

Date1755 - 56

Label TextAlthough this flower vase dates from the mid eighteenth century, it commemorates the Battle of Solebay, which took place in 1672. Clinging to their superiority at sea, the Dutch sought to strike at the allied Anglo-French fleet and thereby open the North Sea to Dutch shipping. The bloody battle was inconclusive, so both sides declared victory. The vase was the centerpiece of a garniture of five vases that belonged to Madame de Pompadour, the influential mistress of Louis XV. She was a great patroness of the arts and powerful sponsor of the Vincennes manufactory.

This cuvette à fleurs Courteille once belonged to Madame de Pompadour, mistress to King Louis XV of France. It was the centerpiece of a five-piece garniture of vases displayed at Saint-Ouen, one of her residences, which was located on the outskirts of Paris. Decorated with a vibrant bleu céleste (sky blue or turquoise) ground color, the cuvette features a rare marine battle scene on the front and a trophy scene on the back. This style of cuvette was made in three sizes. This is the largest size.

The trophy scene on the back of this cuvette, with its distinctive vegetation, is characteristic of the bird paintings by Louis-Denis Armand l'aîné (active 1745-1788). To learn more about Louis-Denis Armand l'aîné, visit the Artist page of this website.

Object number99.8

ProvenanceMadame de Pompadour; A. Spero; Christie's London; Hector Binney Collection; Sotheby's London; Dr. and Mrs. Ulrich Fritzsche 12/05/1989 - 2/18/1999

Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe, Feb. 17 - May 7, 2000.Published ReferencesCollins, Jeffrey. "Porcelain Stories: From China to Europe." Eighteeth-Century Studies 34, No. 1, Poetry and Poetics (Fall 2000): pp. 116-120, p. 118. Harding, Beverly. The Secret of Porcelain: A Family Guide. Seattle, Wash.: Seattle Art Museum, 2000; pp. 10, 25. Emerson, Julie. "Victory at Sea: A Vincennes cuvette painted with a battle-scene." French Porcelain Society Journal vol. III (2007): pp. 59-66. Seattle Art Museum: Bridging Cultures. London: Scala Publishers Ltd. for the Seattle Art Museum, 2007; pp. 60-61, reproduced p. 60.

Credit LineGuendolen Carkeek Plestcheeff Endowment for the Decorative Arts

Dimensions7 3/4 x 12 1/4 in. (19.7 x 31.1 cm)

MediumSoft paste porcelain