Provenance

Bought by François Benois in Paris for George IV in May 1820 from the widow of Quintin Craufurd (d. 23 November 1819), as recorded in a memorandum entitled ‘Notte des Objets chez Mde Cruford’, which is endorsed ‘1820 15 May Mde Cruford 52,000 francs’. The entry reads: ‘1 Vaze forme Oval fond Bleu monté en Bronze à Dorures mosaique’. Entered in the Carlton House receipts’ ledger in August 1820, the vase was part of a consignment of six crates landed at Weymouth, which were opened on 13 May 1820, but were not despatched by Mr Phillips of Bond Street till later. Jutsham describes the vase as ‘An Oval Shape Seve Porcelaine Vase & Cover, the Vase Mounted in Or Molu the Top with a Rim of Or Molu in open work Or Molu Chimera Heads for handles, Or Molu Plynth Blue Ground & Gold in Spots & Small Compartments Or Molu Pine Apple Top, 10 ½ Inches high’. Recorded in 1826 in the Confectionary, Carlton House: ‘No.125. An Oval shaped Seve Porcelain Vase and Cover, mounted in ormolu, with Chimera Mask handles and scrolled horns, pierced honeysuckle border, ormolu knob, stem and square plinth, the body and cover of the Vase in gold mosaic – 11 In. high’.