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Exceptional Sèvres apple green garniture with reserves by Charles Nicolas Dodin (1734-1803). The garniture consists of a pair of vases feuilles de laurier and a vase à ruban, here with the top sometimes found on the vase momies. The three vases were originally part of a five-piece garniture purchased in 1772 by Victoire Louise Marie-Thérèse de France, called Madame Victoire, the fourth daughter of Louis XV and Marie Leszczynska. The two remaining pieces of the complete garniture, a pair of vases flacon à cordes, are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The vases are painted with superb reserves, by Dodin, after subjects by Boucher. On the flanking vases are Les amants surpris (after a Boucher drawing engraved by Demarteau) and Le printemps (after the painting in The Frick Collection). The central vase is painted with Les charmes de la vie champêtre (after a painting in The Louvre as engraved by Jean Daullé). The trophies of rustic implements are attributed to Charles Buteux, the chief trophy painter at Sèvres. Painter’s mark: “K” - (Charles Nicolas Dodin) Date mark: “T” - (1772) [These would appear to be the only known dated Vases feuilles de laurier.] Les amants surpris – incised mark: “VD” or “YD”. [Small chip on rim and an associated partial crack.] Le printemps – incised mark: “PT” (Pierre-Edmond Tristant) Les charmes de la vie champêtre – incised mark: “R” (Claude-Michel Roger) [Small chip on base. Ormolu replacement knop. Top probably not original to the piece.] Ex Collection: Victoire Louise Marie-Thérèse de France, called Madame Victoire Exhibited: Splendeur de la Peinture sur Porcelaine, Charles Nicolas Dodin et la Manufacture de Vincennes-Sèvres au XVIIIe Siècle: Château de Versailles; May 15 - September 9, 2012. Nº 52 Literature: Marie-Laure de Rochebrune. Splendeur de la Peinture sur Porcelaine au XVIIIe Siècle, Charles Nicolas Dodin et la Manufacture de Vincennes-Sèvres: Éditions Artlys; Paris, 2012. Page 128. Illustrated page 129. For information concerning the complete five-piece garniture and Madame Victoire, see pages 124-131. Vase feuilles de laurier – Height - 15¼" (39.4 cm)      Width - 8½" (21.6 cm) Vase à ruban – Height - 17½" (44.5 cm)         Width - 11" (28 cm) This rare garniture of vases has been sold to the Chateau of Versailles, and has been declared  a "National Treasure". They are in the private apartments of Madame Victoire and rest on their original destination, a red marble fireplace in her bedroom. The vases  have been joined by the pair of vases, generously lent by Metropolitan Museum of Art, forming the only complete five-piece garniture shown in any museum in the world.
Origin: France, 1772     Period: Louis XV