MANUFACTURE IMPERIALE DE SEVRES.
Pair of “Lagrenée eagle” or “eagle heads” blue gold laminated vases. 1804.
Vase in gold-laminated blue background porcelain, “Aigle Lagrenée” shape with handles of golden eagle heads holding rings in their beaks, lid with conical shape painted in gold, thick golden fillets on the upper lip, the shoulder and the pedestal; vase resting on a square porcelain base imitating marble.
Decorated with a “gold-laminated blue” background, our pair of “eagle heads” vases are part of one of the most extravagant and rarest productions in Sèvres.
Entirely made of porcelain, these vases have the particularity of having a colored background which perfectly imitates the precious lapis lazuli, a process which was developed and carried out at the end of the 18th century by Jean-Jacques Dieu (1777-1811), gilder painter of the factory active until the beginning of the Empire. The earliest pieces in this beautiful background known as “lapissé blue” are none other than the vases originally forming the extraordinary decoration delivered to Madame Adélaïde in 1783. The handles, handle for gripping the lid and base are as to them entirely covered with gold thus imitating gilded bronze.
The shape of the “Lagrenée” vase flanked by eagle heads was designed in 1795 in a neoclassical spirit; the author is none other than Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (1739-1821), an artist renowned for his participation in the Roman excavations of Herculaneum, and who left an imprint in the decorative arts as deputy director of the royal factory of Sèvres from 1785. Production in Sèvres of this model will be extremely limited. Only a few pieces were made between 1800 and 1804, and all had an imperial destination.
Also the vases with "eagle heads" handles intended to be used to furnish the official residences of Fontainebleau and the Tuileries, are today preserved in public collections, while our pair of vases is probably the only shaped piece of this model which came to us in private hands. The provenance of this pair of lapis vases is all the more exceptional, as it was delivered on the orders of Napoleon to the Tuileries in January 1805, for the Empress Joséphine.
Jean-Jacques Lagrenée, Eagle vase, 1795
Sèvres, National Manufacture and Museum, drawing Inv 2011.3.408
Lagrenée vases with “eagle’s heads” handles: inspired by the neoclassical style
We owe the contours and particular shape of the vase with “eagle heads” handles to Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (1739-1821) who designed the model in 1795. French painter, draftsman and engraver, member of the Royal Academy of Painting , Lagrenée known as the Younger, had been appointed ten years earlier in 1785, artistic co-director of the royal porcelain factory of Sèvres alongside Louis-Simon Boizot (1743-1809) by the Count of Angiviller (1730-1810). ). Promoter of the arts in Antiquity, the Director of the King's Buildings hoped to develop a neo-classical style in its own right, drawing inspiration from the interior decorations and objects revealed by the excavations of Herculaneum and Pompeii in which Lagrenée had also participated during his stay at the Academy of Rome between 1765 and 1769. This is how Lagrenée, following the views of his mentor, renewed the decorative repertoire of the Sèvres Manufacture as well as the style of the pieces of forms and services of table. One of the artist's greatest successes was certainly the famous Rambouillet Dairy Service created for Queen Marie-Antoinette. It was subsequently inspired by the 525 “Etruscan” vases from the Dominique-Vivant Denon collection, acquired by Louis XVI in 1785 and transferred to Sèvres in June 1786.
A technique developed in Sèvres: the “gold laminated” blue background
These vases are also distinguished by the precious and singular decoration imitating lapis lazuli called “gold lapissé” in the archives of the Sèvres factory. Imitating this precious marble, the decor consists of the skilful placement of a fiery cobalt blue background, simulating the veins, the irregular flat areas of color and the lines streaked with gold.
This decoration was born from the collaboration between the painters and gilders Jean-Jacques Dieu (1777-1811) and Nicolas Schradre (active in Sèvres in 1773-1785). Initially developed between 1778 and 1785, it was continued by Dieu after Schradre's departure from the factory in 1785. Although specialized in Chinese paintings, Dieu seems to be the only painter to create "gold laminated" backgrounds since all the pieces recorded to date are in his hand. The most beautiful example produced in the 1780s is the sumptuous royal set of vases adorned with this decoration and delivered to Madame Adélaïde in 1783, to furnish her apartments at the Palace of Versailles.
Detail of the laminated background
A production of the national then imperial factory of Sèvres
Designed by Lagrenée in 1795, production in Sèvres of this model will be extremely limited. There are in fact to date only five models of “eagle head” vases, three of which were made at the start of the Consulate in the years 1800-1801. This is a pair of eagle vases with a beautiful blue background, each with two large oval cartouches decorated with bouquets of flowers with inscriptions, probably painted by Micault, the factory's ornamentalist[1]; and a similar vase with a tortoiseshell background with two large cartels decorated with flowers on a landscape background, probably painted by Drouet[2]. These three pieces will be chosen with a large number of Sèvres vases, on 24 Brumaire year XIII (November 15, 1804) by Calmelet, administrator of the Garde Meuble, for the furnishing of the Emperor's private apartments at the Palace of Fontainebleau where they will be still found today.
Our pair of vases of slightly smaller dimensions, will be made during the year 1804 and belatedly entered the factory's sales store on 19 Frimaire year XIII (December 10, 1804)[3] for a price of 150 fr each (300 francs per pair). The registers of the Sèvres archives show for these vases: 42 fr for the paste and the base; 9 fr for gilding; & 12.60 fr for the lapis blue and gold background, executed by the gilder painter Jean-Jacques Dieu, one of the oldest workers in the factory and the only one able to imitate this blue marble. The same year, God notably decorated in the same laminated blue background, two pairs of Medici-shaped vases of 2nd size, the first delivered for Fontainebleau in Brumaire, the second in Nivôse at the Tuileries.
[1] Entered the store on an unknown date under n°120-43 for a price of 250 fr each. See Bernard Chevallier, Les Sèvres de Fontainebleau, catalog raisonné of Sèvres porcelain from the national museum of the Château de Fontainebleau), RMN, Paris, 1996.
[2] Entered the store on an unknown date under number 60-9 for a price of 350 fr. - Ibid. p.41
[3] Research file by Ms. Tamara Préaux, former general curator of the Sèvres Museum, on pieces in the shape of eagle heads & Archives of the Sèvres Museum, Pb1 [Workshop works, appreciation sheets, Frimaire year 13] .
Sèvres, Pair of “eagle vases”, 1801-1802.
Hard porcelain, enamels and gold. - Height: 38 cm; Width: 25 cm
Château de Fontainebleau, Inv. OA5357.
Eagle vase with tortoiseshell bottom, Sèvres, circa 1800-1801
Hard porcelain, enamels and gold.
No brand
Height: 36 cm; Width: 26 cm.
Fontainebleau, château, Inv. GMLC664.
Pair of Medici vases, circa 1804. Hard porcelain, 31.5 x 23 cm
Example of the blue laminated background created by the gilder painter Jean-Jaques Dieu (1777-1811)
Fontainebleau, château, Inv. F3538.1-2.
Delivered to the Emperor for Fontainebleau in 1805
The delivery of 24 Brumaire year XIII for Fontainebleau
It seems that our two vases escaped the famous list which had been drawn up on 24 Brumaire by Calmelet[4] to adorn the private apartments of the Château de Fontainebleau; this imperial decision to adorn the imperial palace with Sèvres vases had the consequence of literally emptying the factory's stores, to the great despair of its director, Alexandre Brongniard. The latter complained about it the same day in a long correspondence addressed to Fleurieu, Intendant of the Emperor's Household[5]. In view of the order that Mr Calmelet sent me from you, I made available to him all the objects he wanted to choose (…). You will see that 97 ornamental vases are taken for the furnishing of the Château de Fontainebleau alone. Many are of great price because of their greatness or their perfection. I must warn you that this choice takes away from the factory almost everything it has in finished vases, and I do not hesitate to suggest that it would be difficult to find such a large number and especially equally beautiful in all the stores in Paris. But I cannot help but communicate to you, Sir, some observations on the consequences which may result from this choice (…) Brongniard thought in particular that these vases would be used primarily to adorn the Palais des Tuileries and St-Cloud which They have almost none, so that the others can be given as gifts by the Government, particularly on the occasion of the Coronation; he therefore regrets the choice that has just been made, removing the majority of objects that could have this use. (…) This measure almost completely empties the store of the most remarkable pieces. It will be detrimental to the Manufacture and the government if it were to organize visits to distinguished people at the time of the Coronation. He also recalls that some of these objects
[4] Etienne-Jacques Calmelet (1773-1840), lawyer and long-time confidant of Joséphine, of whom he was one of the witnesses during the marriage with Napoleon, administrator of the furniture of the imperial palaces (1804-1806). Calmelet will be responsible for choosing the Sèvres vases a few days after his appointment on 13 Brumaire (November 4, 1804). It was Alexandre Desmazis (1768-1841) who succeeded him for the rest of the Empire in February 1806
[5] National Archives, O2/918. Correspondence of 24 Brumaire year 13
would have served to alleviate the cash flow of the heavily indebted factory. He invites him to have Calmelet modify the list.[6] From 97 vases, the list was reduced to 88 vases for the sole benefit of the Imperial Palace of Fontainebleau for an amount of 53,223 fr.[7] Among the vases listed by Calmelet are:
(…)
- 120-43. 2 vases with eagle heads, beautiful blue background, flowers & 500 fr [8]
- 60-9. 1 eagle's head vase with tortoiseshell background, flowers & 350 fr [9]
- 149-19. 2 Medici-shaped vases with a blue background and gold, & 300 fr [10]
(…)
National archives. O2/925. Inventory of vases for Fontainebleau, 24 Brumaire year 13
[6] Following the correspondence, Brongniard announced Duroc's passage to the factory concerning the services for Fontainebleau, chosen by Mr de Luçay; the request to double services required additional work while the factory was deprived of funds due to late payments; due to lack of cash, he also asked to be able to use military carts to transport porcelain from Sèvres to Fontainebleau
[7] National Archives, O2/925. List of porcelains delivered to His Majesty for his Palace of Fontainebleau on 24 Brumaire year 13. Porcelains chosen by Mr de Luçay, First Prefect of the Palace (…) Nanking service and frize gold service (…) Porcelains chosen by Mr Calmelet, administrator of the furniture of the Imperial Palaces (…) 88 medium vases of different sizes, different backgrounds and decorations [marginal note: The details and prices of this subject, included in the receipt from Mr. Adm. furniture].
Doubled document in the archives of the Sèvres Museum, Vbb2 [register of credits to the Government] f°4-5 & Vy16 [register of cash and credit sales] f°9v-10.
[8] Pair of “eagle vases”, currently kept at the Château de Fontainebleau, Inv OA5357.1 (deposit of the Louvre Museum). Arranged in the Emperor's dining room in 1805, then in the Empress's second salon in 1807 and 1810.
[9] “Eagle vases” with a tortoiseshell background, still kept at the Château de Fontainebleau, Inv GMLC664. Arranged in the Emperor's bedroom, then in 1807 in the living room of the ground floor apartment Cour d'Honneur, before appearing in 1810 in the living room of apartment no. 2 Pavillon du Tibre [Archives of the Château de Fontainebleau, Series AJ19/237]
[10] Medici-shaped vase, still kept at the Château de Fontainebleau, Inv F3538.1-2. Arranged in the Empress's bedroom in 1805 then placed in 1810 in the corner salon of the Grand Constable (future apartment of the Pope) [Archives of the Château de Fontainebleau, Series AJ /238 f°169v].
Delivered in 1805 on the orders of Napoleon to the Tuileries, for the Empress
The following Nivôse 11 (January 1, 1805), 22 vases among the remaining vases were delivered by order of the Emperor to the Tuileries Palace. In the margins of the factory's exit registers, Brongniard had noted in pencil their initial destination for the furniture. However, we learn in his correspondence with the General Intendant[11], that the vases were given for the Empress Joséphine. I received this morning at eight-thirty from Mr. Pfister [First Maître d'Hôtel of the palace] the order you gave me to deliver to him the porcelain that he will choose for the Empress. I immediately put this order into execution and at 11 a.m., four loaded stretchers left for the Tuileries. It took this long to choose, clean, save and pack despite the numerous help I have found so far. There are only ten pairs of vases. But you know that all the pieces of this kind were recently removed for Fontainebleau. [because all were recently kidnapped for Fontainebleau, as you know] The Emperor and you, Sir, must count on the zeal and activity that I put into fulfilling my functions. If, however, it were possible to be warned a little in advance, His Majesty would often be served in a more suitable manner (…). Brongniard follows the list of porcelain services with the vases delivered to the Tuileries[12]:
AN O2 /918 Letter from Brongniard to the General Intendant
announcing the delivery of the vases to the Tuileries
for the Empress. 11 Nivôse year 13 (1805)
AN O2 /925 List of porcelain delivered to Her Majesty
the 11th of Nivôse (…) 22 vases of different shapes in decorations
[11] National Archives, O2 /918. Correspondence of 11 Nivôse year 13.
[12] The detailed list of vases does not appear in the National Archives [Series O2 /925]. It is simply indicated on the invoice for the Intendant: List of porcelain delivered to His Majesty on Nivôse 11 (…) 22 vases of different shapes in decorations for a total price of 4990 fr. However, we find the details in the Archives of the Sèvres Museum, Vbb2 [Credits to the Government] f°7r/v & Vy16 [Register of cash and credit sales, 1st Nivôse – 30 Fructidor year 13] f°18v.
(…)
- 56-64. 2 vases with jasmine background with gold decoration 350 fr
- 75-29. 2 blue and pink background vases, landscapes 900 fr
- 141-11. 2 vases with a beautiful blue background, flowers 450 fr
- 99-37. 2 vases with chipped bottom 360 fr
- 149-31. 2 vases with a beautiful blue background 300 fr
- 151-2. 2 vases jasmins fond & 510 fr
- 117-34. 2 vases the same 360 fr
- 125-3. 2 lapis blue background vases mounted in bronze 700 fr
- 151-50. 2 lapis blue Medici-shaped vases 300 fr
- 152-21. 2 lapis blue eagle head vases 300 fr[13]
- 112-15. 2 vases sandblasted grisaille base 450 fr
Archives of the Sèvres Museum. Vbb2, Credits to the Government, January 1, 1805, f°6v-7
[13] Note: the inventory number of the pair of “eagle” vases is: 152-21; the following inventory number 152-22 corresponds to a pair of vases with a lapis blue background but without "eagle's head" specification (the price is lower: 240 fr); the pair of vases was intended to be offered as a present to the Bishop of Versailles on the occasion of the marriage of Princess Stéphanie to the Prince of Baden on April 22, 1806 (see Vbb2 f°57v and Vy17 f°15v).
Related works
- Pair of “eagle vases” with a beautiful blue background. Château de Fontainebleau, Inv OA5357.1
(deposit of the Louvre Museum).
- “Eagle vases” with a tortoiseshell background, still kept at the Château de Fontainebleau, Inv GMLC664
Archival sources
- National Archives, O2 /918 and 925 for the correspondence between Brongniard, director of the Sèvres Museum and the Intendant
General of the Household of the Emperor.
- National Archives, AJ19/933 et seq. Inventory of furniture at the Château de Fontainebleau &
O2 /675 on the furnishings of the Palais des Tuileries.
- Archives of the Sèvres Museum. Mainly Vbb and Vy [Register of cash and credit sales]: Vbb2 f°7v & Vy16 f°18v – 11 Nivôse year 13 (January 1, 1805). Delivery by order of the Emperor to the Palais des Tuileries
Bibliography
-Marc Sandoz. Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (the young one). 1739-1821. Paris, 1988.
- Bernard Chevallier, The Sèvres of Fontainebleau. Porcelain, glazed earthenware, enamels, stained glass (pieces entered from 1804 to 1904). RMN, Paris, 1996.
