Pair of Paris Porcelain Golden Mantle Vases in Empire Style Made Circa 1840

We are pleased to offer this pair of golden Paris Porcelain mantle vases made in the Empire style, circa 1840. The gilding on these vases is dazzling. The delicate band of flowers and the matte handles emphasize the mirror-like quality of the gold. Gilding used gold as pigment in paint: the artist ground the gold into a fine powder and mixed it with a binder. Then the gold was applied in the same way as paint. After gold-painting, the artist would heat the piece enough to melt the gold slightly, ensuring an even coat.

Dimensions: 12.25 inches tall x 6 inches across x 3.25 inches deep

Condition: Excellent

Price: $1,200                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Background of Paris Porcelain: Old Paris porcelain, or Vieux Paris, produced by numerous private factories clustered around the French capital, was known for gilded opulence. The time frame for the production of Paris Porcelain extends from the late 18th century up to the 1870s. Most pieces are not marked.