Artwork Page for Potpourri Vase with Cover

Details / Information for Potpourri Vase with Cover

Potpourri Vase with Cover

c. 1740–60
made by

Saint Cloud Porcelain Factory

(French)
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Culture
France, Saint Cloud, 18th century
Medium
soft-paste porcelain
Measurements
Overall: 15 cm (5 7/8 in.)
Credit Line
The Norweb Collection 1962.360.1
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Did You Know?

Prior to Saint-Cloud's development of soft-paste porcelain in the 1690s, rumors spread throughout Europe that the prized material was made by burying a variety of materials, including lobster shells, in the ground for eighty years.

Description

These vases were created to contain potpourri, a mixture of flowers, herbs, and spices emitting ambient fragrance. This specific function offered a particularly fertile ground for the development of French porcelain, as manufactories experimented with forms, surface ornamentations, and placement of perforations.
An off-white soft-paste porcelain vessel features a central body textured with a basketweave pattern. Twisted handles resembling rope jut from either side. A domed lid sits atop, encrusted with a dense cluster of molded roses. The vessel tapers before flaring into a wide base adorned with layered leaves and blossoms. Tiny circular perforations punctuate the uniform surface, accentuating the intricate floral and foliate details throughout.

Potpourri Vase with Cover

c. 1740–60

Saint Cloud Porcelain Factory

(French)
France, Saint Cloud, 18th century

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