A SWEDISH PORPHYRY ('BLYBERG') VASE

Porphyry was first discovered in Sweden at Älvadalen in 1731 but was not commercially exploited until after 1788 by Eric Hagström under the direction of Nils Adam Bielke. The works were acquired in 1818 by Maréchal Bernadotte who reigned as King Karl XIV Johann of Sweden from 1818 to 1844, and remained under Royal control until 1856, with a great many pieces being distributed throughout Europe. Production largely ceased following a disastrous fire in 1869.

Designs for porphyry vases of this shape were included under nos. 7 and 25 in the 1799 designs for vases executed by the Court ciseleur Ludvig Rung (ill. in Porphyre La Pierre Royale, Paris, 1990, p. 20 and p. 33). A closely related tazza is at Rosendal castle near Stockholm and illustrated in C. Laine, Rosendals slott, Stockholm, 2003, p. 306. A related pair presented to Fürst Hardenberg by King Karl XIV Johann of Sweden was sold Christie's, London, 7 July 2005, lot 310, whilst a further pair sold, Christie's, London, 2 December 1997, lot 47.