A PAIR OF SWEDISH ORMOLU-MOUNTED 'BLYBERG' PORPHYRY URNS AND COVERS

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 they remained under Royal control until 1856. Production largely ceased following a disastrous fire in 1869.

The design for porphyry vases of this shape are included under no.14 in the 1799 designs for vases executed by the Court ciseleur Ludvig Rung (ill. in Porphyre La Pierre Royale, Paris, 1990, p. 20). A closely related urn and cover is at Nordiska Museet (ill in Porphyre La Pierre Royale, Paris, 1990, fig. 4.).