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

SHIPPING: I can ship within 24-48 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. Furthermore, to avoid any issues, it will also be insured. -Are you on vacation? I offer a premium service, maximum flexibility for delivery; I can ship to the pickup point nearest to you, so you can collect it at your leisure when you prefer. KEPT IN A CLOSED DISPLAY CASE I am one of the few sellers who can ship worldwide thanks to owning and registering the EORI CODE, which ensures peace of mind and faster shipment even outside the European Union. Structure and Form The piece presents itself as an important crater vase with a flared mouth and a body that tapers downward, resting on a tall pedestal foot. The silhouette is characterized by marked verticality and strict symmetry, distinctive elements of the Empire style. The upper edge is straight-edged, embellished with a substantial gold filigree work in relief with foliate motifs and mirrored volutes. Decorative Apparatus (The Central Cartouche) The front of the vase hosts an oval reserve, framed by refined golden edging, inside which a pre-romantic taste landscape scene is miniaturized. The painting, executed with extreme technical precision, depicts a rural outlook with rustic architectures (a tower and farmhouses) immersed in lush vegetation. The use of aerial perspective and the vibrant rendering of tree foliage suggest the hand of a master decorator specializing in vedute. Plastic Elements and Gilding Of particular value are the 'handles' (the grips), modeled as twin opposing volutes that fit onto the body of the vase with acanthus leaf elements entirely covered in gilt gold. The base of the main body is decorated with a stylized shell relief, serving as a visual connector to the underlying stem. The foot features a wreath decoration with a small painted floral medallion, echoing the tones of the main landscape and giving chromatic coherence to the whole object. Materials and Technique The work is made in very fine white glazed porcelain. The decoration results from a triple firing: one for the ceramic body, one for the colored pigments, and the last for the gold fixation, which appears glossy and burnished, typical of European luxury 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-towered tower with a pitched roof and the adjacent ochre building evoke fortified homesteads of the Lazio or Tuscany countryside. In the Empire era, this type of representation symbolized landownership and family stability: the house is not just a dwelling, but a stronghold on the land. Natural Elements: The path descending toward the viewer and the untamed yet lush vegetation represent the “Tamed Nature.” The contrast between the clear blue sky and the deep green of the trees provides breath and prestige to the environment in which the vase was displayed, bringing a piece of the outside world into noble salons. 2. Provenance: The Great Families of the Napoleonic Period A vase of this quality, lacking a mark but with gilding as extensive (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 can be traced to a commission linked to: Borghese or Torlonia Family (Rome): The Torlonia, in particular, often commissioned monumental services and vases celebrating their properties. The vase’s structure recalls the craters that adorned Roman palaces during the period of 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 preferred diplomatic gifts to consolidate ties between France and the satellite kingdoms in Italy. Given the mix of Empire rigor and still-vibrant decoration, it is highly probable that the vase was part of the furnishings of a suburban villa owned by a duke or prince lineage who wanted to flaunt both its connection to the land and, at the same time, adherence to the new international taste imposed by Napoleon.

Stima:€275

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