VIEUX PARIS - Vase (2) - Crater-shaped amphorae. - Porcelain with a solid gold finish - HAND-PAINTED VASES

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This pair of vases is an excellent example of Paris porcelain (Vieux Paris), dating from the mid-19th century (the height of the Victorian era).
The design is that of a Neoclassical-inspired crater vase, which became a symbol of luxury in the homes of the European nobility during the reigns of Louis Philippe and Napoleon III. As such precious objects, they were made by master ceramicists who used the “grand feu” technique to set the colors and pure gold.

-What the scenes depict
The scenes are painted using the polychrome miniature technique and are described as popular genre scenes:

Vase 1 (A Romantic Encounter): It depicts a meeting between a young fisherman (note his bare feet and modest but carefully kept clothes) and a young woman in traditional dress. It is a rural courtship scene, typical of 19th-century Romanticism.
Vase 2 (Fishing): It shows a fisherman pointing out to sea, with sailing boats in the background. The backs of both vases feature coastal landscapes with Mediterranean architecture and cypress trees, evoking views from the Grand Tour.

Detail: The birds in flight and the precise rendering of the faces indicate the work of a skilled painter, rather than mass production.

-Gilding and Specific Details
Gilding: The gilding is described as “mirror-finish” or “gold-ground.” If it is still flawless, this means it was applied in a thick layer (24-karat pure gold) and burnished with agate stones. Its sheen indicates that the vases were kept in protected display cases, away from dust and moisture.

-Handles: The handles are sculptural scrolls with curled motifs and are entirely gilded.
Base: Both stand on a square plinth, an element that lends them a stately and imposing quality, typical of aristocratic commissions.

-Family and Provenance
Vases of this importance were not intended for the general market, but belonged to families of the upper aristocracy or industrial upper class (such as the Bourbons in Naples or the Parisian nobility). They were displayed as a pair on the fireplaces of formal reception rooms (mantel garnitures), showcasing the family’s wealth through the abundance of gold.

-Valuation
Given their exceptional condition (“perfect gilding”), the quality of the painting, and the fact that they are an intact matching pair:

Market estimate: A similar pair, if confirmed to be by a prestigious Paris maker, could sell for between €1,500 and €2,000 through specialist channels serving elite collectors.