European Furniture & Decorative Arts

Sale 1062

Live

| Chicago

Jul 19 | 11:00 AM EDT

Live

| Chicago

Lot 84

A Large Sèvres Cobalt-Glazed and Parcel Gilt Porcelain Presentation Vase and Cover of Ambassadorial Interest

Lot 84

A Large Sèvres Cobalt-Glazed and Parcel Gilt Porcelain Presentation Vase and Cover of Ambassadorial Interest

Status:

Closed

Estimate: $3,000 - $5,000

Estimate$3,000 – $5,000

Status

Closed

A Large Sèvres Cobalt-Glazed and Parcel Gilt Porcelain Presentation Vase and Cover of Ambassadorial Interest

Circa 1890

impressed EC 85 11 to the underside of the cover, with Décoré à Sèvres and S 86 factory marks to the underside, the base engraved Le Gouvernment de la République France/ A M. Whitelaw-Reid/ Ministre des États-Unis d'Amerique/En souvenir de sa Mission à Paris/1889-1892.
Height overall 49 inches.

Property from a Private Chicago Collection

This lot is located in Chicago.

Note:

The present lot was a gift from the French government to Whitelaw Reid, an American politician and newspaper editor who served as the U.S. Ambassador to France from 1889-1892 under President Benjamin Harrison, among other distinguished posts. The presentation of the vase is documented in Reid's biography published in 1921, stating: “A gift from the French Government reached him in the shape of a piece of Sèvres, a large classic vase…. It was transmitted with the following letter from the minister of foreign affairs:

Mr. Minister, At the moment when circumstances led to your voluntary resignation of the high diplomatic functions which you exercised for some three years at Paris, the President of the Republic was specially [sic] desirous of sending to you, in the name of the French Government, a souvenir of the mission which you have so worthily filled, and the premature close of which excites in us very sincere regrets.

Coming to Paris at the beginning of the year 1889, one of your first acts was to associate the Republic of the United States of America with the celebration of our grand centenary, and since then you have never failed, while defending the interests of your country, to think constantly of the friendship of over a century which unites it to France—a friendship which finds today, in the similarity of their political institutions, a reason for continuance and growth.

In accepting the object of art which I now have the pleasure of offering you in the name of the French Republic, will you please fine in this testimonial a proof of the sentiments generally expressed on your account, and of the agreeable souvenirs of you which we cherish.

Accept, Mr. Minister, the assurance of my very high consideration and of my most sympathetic regards.

-Ribot.”[1]

[1] Royal Cortissoz, The Life of Whitelaw Reid (New York: C. Scribner's Sons, 1921), pp. 192-193.

NOTE: The vase was a gift of the Goverment of France to the American Ambassador Whitlaw Reid who served as Ambassador to France from 1889-1892. The cataloguing has been updated to represent this item's history.

In overall good, stable condition without cracks, chips or repairs. Some very minor rubbing to gilt decoration, generally does not detract from appearance unless viewed closely. No other significant condition issues noted. Additional images available upon request.

The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.

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Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

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Corbin Horn

Vice President, Head of Department, European Furniture & Decorative Arts

corbinhorn@freemansauction.com 312.334.4214

Mr. Horn joined the firm in 2009 and has directed numerous sales of important collections, including those of Lilly Pulitzer, Lord Anthony and Lady Jacobs, Lars Bolander, Casa de Sueños in Miami Beach, and Villa Massei in Lucca, Italy. He has also achieved record results for consignments from prominent institutions, including the Toledo Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art, the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Minnesota Historical Society. Mr. Horn is a member of the Antiquarian Society of the Art Institute of Chicago and is an alumnus of the Attingham Trust.

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Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

European Furniture & Decorative Arts

A Large Sèvres Cobalt-Glazed and Parcel Gilt Porcelain Presentation Vase and Cover of Ambassadorial Interest

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