Manifattura di Parigi (Vieux Paris) con rifinitura presso Real Fabbrica Ferdinandea (Napoli) - - Vase (2) - Empire-style amphora model with a gold ground. - Porcelain (hard-paste), polychrome enamels, zecchino gold leaf, glaze (vitrifying) - Pair of Porcelain Vases

SHIPPING: I can ship within 24 to 48 hours, which is why the shipping is a bit higher; the item will be packed with bubble wrap and cardboard with maximum care since it is a fragile and valuable object. Also to avoid any inconvenience it will be insured.
- Are you on vacation? I offer a premium service, maximum delivery flexibility, I can ship to the pickup point closest to you, so you can pick it up calmly whenever you prefer.

KEPT IN A CLOSED DISPLAY CABINET

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HISTORICAL CONTEXT:
The fuseau shape (spindle or “all’antica”) with finely worked gilded handles and a square plinth base with alternating gold and porcelain bands is the quintessence of the taste of the First French Empire and Charles X (circa 1815–1830). This type of vase reflects the neoclassical influence of the era, intended to decorate consoles and mantels in grand aristocratic houses.
Manufacture
Crafted in very fine hard-paste porcelain, these pieces are attributed to the prestigious Paris Porcelain workshops (Porcelaine de Paris / Vieux Paris) or to royal manufactories such as Sèvres and Dagoty. The great Parisian manufactories of the nineteenth century were renowned for their extraordinary mastery in combining enameling on glaze with pure gold leaf grounds.
-The Subject: The Charm of Maritime Views and Artful Capriccios
The front panels, entirely hand-painted, show dramatic coastal scenes with sailing ships, rocky coves, and fortified architectures:
-Left Vase: Depicts a seascape with a sailing ship anchored near a rocky coast crowned by an ancient tower/castle, with figures in period dress along the shore.
-Right Vase: Features a romantic coastal landscape with ships sailing, mountain ranges in the background, and small figures on horseback and on foot animating the scene.
The use of delicate tones for the skies and the reflections on the water, contrasted by the vivid purples of the rocks, embodies the Romantic and Grand Tour artistic movement, where the sea and naval adventure were synonymous with prestige, trade, and exploration.
Symbolism and Decoration
- Agate burnished gilding: The flared neck, feet and handles are entirely coated in hand-applied gilded gold leaf and burnished. The technique creates a brilliance contrast that catches the light, typical of elite productions.
- Construction in three pieces: Characteristic of this period, the vases were not made in a single block. They are assembled from three distinct elements (base plinth, foot/neck, and central painted body) tightened by an original internal metal tie rod with a nut. This technique guaranteed perfect firing results and impeccable stability.
- Rarity of the Pair: Facing an original pair kept together significantly increases its antique value, as the painted scenes are complementary and designed to create perfect visual symmetry.

Historical Estimation / Auction
- Commercial estimate for the pair: €1,500 – €2,500
(A single vase of this type usually fluctuates between €700 and €900, but the presence of the intact twin pair doubles and enhances its appeal in international auctions).

NOBLE HISTORY AND THE MEANING OF THE PAIR
The Voyage of the Two Seas: The Legend of a Parisian Shipowner. It is told that this pair of vases was not born simply to decorate a drawing room, but to celebrate a great naval achievement in 1828. They were commissioned by a wealthy shipowner and scholar from Marseille, Henri de La Tour, returning from a long voyage along the routes of the Mediterranean. To commemorate the success of his maritime trade between France, Naples, and the Levant, the scene frames the KINGDOM OF NAPLES and he turned to a famous Paris workshop of porcelain painters.
He requested a double work: two mirrored vases that told the calm before departure and the allure of the arrival. The left vase depicted the safe harbor with the protective fortress, while the right vase captured the route toward exotic lands with travelers on horseback ready for exploration. For decades the pair rested in the dining room of the family estate in Marseille, placed on either side of a large gilded mirror. During gala evenings, the candle flames reflected on the gilded surfaces, transforming the gilded fields into the glow of a sunset over the sea.
Color disclaimer and condition: As antique porcelain/art objects, please note that the color tones, gilding reflections, and details visible in the images may vary slightly from the actual object due to photographic rendering and lighting. The images are considered an integral part of the description, but the actual object in person shall prevail.
TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE 2 VASES: 1,692 g
WEIGHT OF A SINGLE VASE: 846 g