A PAIR OF SEVRES PORCELAIN 'BLEU NOUVEAU' VASES AND COVERS (VASE 'ALLEMAND UNI')

The Sèvres porcelain collection at Harewood House was largely assembled by Edward Lascelles, Viscount Lascelles (1764-1814), who acquired pieces both in Paris following the Peace of Amiens in 1802, as well as through dealers and auctions in London. Additionally, it is possible that the collection was added to through gifts from King George IV who shared his passion for French porcelain. Upon Edward's death without issue in 1814, the collection was acquired by his father then descended through the family at Harewood. The present vases are mentioned in several inventories of the house, including one from 1892 which reads, "A pair of cassolette shaped Sèvres vases and covers on loose stands, blue-du-roi ground with gilding, in front panel painted with Boucher subjects of two figures in a garden, on the reverse flowers. One cover in Worcester china made to match. Height 9 in."
For a pair of green-ground vases of the same form and painted by Dodin are in the Wallace Collection, see R. Savill, The Wallace Collection, Catalogue of Sèvres Porcelain, Vol. I, London, 1988, pp. 263-266.