Provenance

Bought by George IV from Robert Fogg for £126; his bill dated 30 June 1812 reads ‘2 Seve Porcelaine Vases blue ground Lapis Lazuli, bird handles’. Delivered to Carlton House on 3 July and placed in the Bow Room, Principal Floor, as recorded by Benjamin Jutsham, who entered them in his receipts’ ledger in October 1812, describing them in exactly the same terms as Fogg. As noted in pencil in the margin of the ledger, they were subsequently moved to the Anti Room, Basement Floor, where they were recorded in 1826: ‘No.94. A pair of blue and gold Seve Porcelain Ewers, the bodies painted to imitate Lapis Lazuli, the tops formed as Swans in gold, the bottoms, gold rock work, with reeds rising and joining the necks of the Swans, to form handles – 19 In. high.’