A PAIR OF LOUIS XV ORMOLU-MOUNTED CHINESE CELADON PORCELAIN BAMBOO-FORM BRUSHPOTS

These extremely rare ormolu-mounted bamboo-shaped brush-pot vases are identical to the vase visible on the left of the chimneypiece in Baron de Besenval's portrait by Pierre-Henri Danloux and can be associated with two known pairs: one in the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. nos 820, 820A, 1882) and a pair sold at Christie's, London, 4 December 1975, lot 47. They are exemplary of the unique creative involvement of the marchands-merciers such as Lazare-Duvaux who provided luxurious ormolu items for pationate collectors of oriental porcelain such as Baron de Besenval who had a particuar interest in unusual celadon wares.