Vieux Paris / Old Paris Porcelain Urn
France
19th Century
Cm 42 high x 23 wide
The term Vieux Paris, or "Old Paris" porcelain does not refer to one particular maker, but is used to describe French porcelain pieces made by one of more than thirty manufacturers operating in and around the city of Paris between the mid 1700s until circa 1870. These companies were competing with luxury items produced by Sevres and Limoges, and rose to the Challenge with exceptionally talented artists working in a wide variety of decorative styles. Though unmarked (as many of these pieces were) the level of quality in technique and playful detailing point to an Old Paris firm as the maker. The distinctive shape of the urn with its boxlike base standing on stylized feet, its rich green color and raised, hand painted gilt detailing follow a design popularized by Jacob Petit in his work for various Old Paris manufacturers.