Pair French Porcelain Vases by Edmé-Alexandre-Francisque Rousseau Circa 1850s
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Our client's pair of antique white porcelain vases by Françisque Rousseau feature gilt and finely painted floral bouquets on front and reverse, and gilt handles with lion masks. Each 8 in wide and 6 1/2 in deep. Heights: 13 5/8 and 14 in. Each in good condtion. There are old restorations to the handles. Additional images by request.
According to Christies, Rousseau was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Exhibition in 1844, principally for his color production and durability of gilding.
According to Sotheby's, the French porcelain painter, Edmé-Alexandre-Francisque Rousseau, was active in Paris between 1837 and 1853. According to the Bulletin des lois de la République Française (Vol.29, Paris, 1845) Francisque Rousseau registered a patent for the invention of a new gilding process on porcelain in 1844. Thanks to this invention Rousseau was awarded the great gold medal by the Sociéte d’Encouragment pour l’Industrie Nationale and a gold medal a the Paris Exposition in 1844. In 1847 in General Yearbook of Trade, Industry, Judiciary and Administration, the entry to his name reads “author of the gilding process, on any coloured background by half-great fire of kiln of which the large application, the perfect and constant success earned him (several awards)…”. Gaultier de Claubry praises the “improvements he brought to porcelain decoration”. He describes the process through which Rousseau achieved the application of relief on coloured backgrounds, without altering their gloss, in order to receive a dense gilding. The unprecedented solidity of these ornaments seems to have opened new decorative possibilities for a wider range of objects. Francisque Rousseau’s “inalterable gilding” will, according to Mr Claubry, “satisfy all of art’s exigences and whims of fashion”. The popularity of his products and their low prices brought him increasing attention, which culminated in his nomination as Supplier of the King (Fournisseur du Roi) Louis-Phillipe in 1847.
