A MONUMENTAL SEVRES (NAPOLEON III) PORCELAIN PALE-YELLOW GROUND VASE (VASE DE NIMES)

Fantastic in scale, the ‘Vase de Nîmes’ was a highly regarded form at Sèvres throughout the second half of the 19th century. It was first modelled by Jules-Pierre-Michel Diéterle (1811-1889) in 1853 and, according to the Sèvres Archives, the first models entered the salerooms in August of 1855, the year of the Exposition universelle in Paris. Other examples of this impressive form were exhibited at the 1867 Exposition universelle in Paris (painted by Roussel and noted as a “merveille,” or “wonder,” of the exhibition); the 1873 International Exhibition in Vienna (two exhibited, one with flowers and orchids by Barriat, the other with figures by Roussel); and the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia (one painted with grapes and wisteria).

Further enhancing the prestige of this form, in the Autumn of 1896 Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his empress, Alexandra Federovna, came on an official state visit to France where they are were given a number of presents, the most spectacular and, at 6000 francs, the most expensive of which was a ‘Vase de Nîmes.’ This incredible gift has been in the collection of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg since 1931. See N. Kazakevitch, "Le vase de Nîme, cadeau de la France au tsar Nicolas II," L’Estampille / L’Objet d’art, n° 370, June 2002, fiche 370B.