IMPERO - Vase - Goblet-shaped vase with volute handles and a shell-shaped base

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 the utmost care since it is a fragile and precious object. Additionally, to avoid problems it will also be insured. - Are you on vacation? I offer a premium service, maximum delivery flexibility; I can ship to the pickup point nearest to you, so you can collect it calmly whenever you prefer. CONSERVE IN DISPLAY CASE I am one of the few sellers who can ship worldwide thanks to owning and registering the EORI CODE, which guarantees peace of mind and faster shipping even outside the European Union. Structure and Form The work presents itself as an important crater vase with a flared mouth and a body tapering downward, resting on a high plinth. The silhouette is characterized by marked verticality and strict symmetry, distinctive elements of the Empire style. The upper edge is straight-sided, enriched by a significant border in gold leaf worked in relief with foliate motifs and mirror-like scrolls. Decorative Apparatus (The Central Cartouche) The front of the vase hosts an oval reserve, framed by a refined gilded fillet, inside which a pre-romantic taste landscape scene is miniature-painted. The painting, executed with extreme technical skill, depicts a rural scene with rural architectures (a tower and farmhouses) immersed in lush vegetation. The use of aerial perspective and the vibrant rendering of the tree foliage suggest the hand of a master decorator specialized in vedute. Plastic Elements and Gilding Of particular value are the handles, shaped as double opposite volutes that nest onto the body of the vase with acanthus leaf elements entirely covered in gold leaf. The base of the main body is decorated with a stylized shell relief that serves as a visual junction with the stem beneath. The foot features a garland decoration with a small painted floral medallion, echoing the tones of the main landscape, giving chromatic coherence to the entire object. Materials and Technique The work is realized in fine white glazed porcelain. The decoration is the result of a triple firing: one for the ceramic body, one for the colored pigments, and the last for fixing the gold, which appears shiny and burnished, typical of luxury European manufactories of the 19th century. 1. Analysis of the Scene: "The Rustic Idyl and the Tower of Memory" The scene painted in the central cartouche is not a simple landscape, but an idealized view that responds to the Grand Tour taste. Architectural Symbolism: The square-plan tower with a sloped roof and the adjacent ochre building evoke fortified estates of the Lazio or Tuscany countryside. In the Empire era, this type of representation symbolized land ownership and family stability: the house is not only a dwelling but a stronghold on the territory. Natural Elements: The path descending toward the viewer and the neglected yet lush vegetation represent the "Tamed Nature." The contrast between the clear blue sky and the deep green of the trees helps give breath and prestige to the setting in which the vase was displayed, bringing a piece of the outdoors into noble salons. 2. Provenance: The Great Families of the Napoleonic Period A vase of this caliber, unsigned but with such extensive gilding (defined as "full-field" in the decorative parts), was destined exclusively for high aristocracy or the new Napoleonic nobility. Considering the style and the type of veduta, the vase is attributable to a commissioning linked to: Borghese or Torlonia Family (Rome): The Torlonias, in particular, often commissioned monumental services and vases celebrating their estates. The vase structure recalls the craters that adorned Roman palaces during the French occupation. Murat or Bonaparte Family (Naples/Paris): it could have belonged to Gioacchino Murat’s entourage. Empire-style vases with Italian landscapes were the diplomatic gifts preferred to strengthen ties between France and the satellite kingdoms in Italy. Given the mix between Empire rigor and still-vibrant decoration, it is very likely that the vase was part of the furnishings of a suburban villa of a ducal or princely family that wanted to ostentatiously display its connection to its homeland and, at the same time, adherence to the new international taste imposed by Napoleon.

Stima:€275

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