Pair of Vases

The deep-red glaze of these imported Chinese vases would have astonished Parisian consumers in the 1700s. The gilded bronze mounts were added in Paris by a specialist dealer in luxury goods. Known as marchands-merciers, these skillful tastemakers were famous for adapting and embellishing imported Asian commodities. The mounts were probably designed by Jean-Claude Duplessis, a sculptor and goldsmith who provided French manufacturers with innovative designs for porcelain and metalwork. The vases were dramatically altered when the mounts were added: Their original elongated necks were cut down and their globular bodies sliced in two to create covers.