THE BASES LATE 18TH/19TH CENTURY, THE PORCELAIN BODIES EDO PERIOD

With its combination of both Japanese and Chinese porcelain, this pair of potpourris continues the centuries-old European tradition of decorating Asian porcelain with lavish gilt metal mounts. Its pinnacle came with the innovative, fantastical creations of the 18th-century French marchands-merciers who assembled objects de luxe such as inkwells, candelabra, brûle parfums and potpourri vases utilizing Asian porcelain set within elaborate ormolu mounts.
These potpourris were formerly in the collection of the Baroness Burton (1841-1931), the widow of Michael Bass (1837-1909) 1st Baron Burton, whose immense brewing fortune paved their entry into Victorian society. They purchased Chesterfield House, the superb rococo palace built between 1746-1752 by Isaac Ware for Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield (1694-1773) for their London residence. A series of photographs of its famous interiors were taken by Bedford Lemare circa 1910 illustrate their extensive collection of Old Master paintings, French and English furniture, porcelains and works of art.