The following treasure is from the living estate of Ailene & Buddy Ford; noted dealers and lifelong collectors of exceptional antique & vintage heirlooms. The Ford estate presents highly valuable items from a diverse group of genres, 95% + in excellent condition. This exquisite estate has something for every eclectic collector! xxxxxxxxxxx. The AEAA is very proud to present this second of two matching mold, ca. 1900 huge Parisian porcelain vases, both with hand painted European bridge and water scenes. These conical flared rim vases have floral blossom rims, and unique rustic tree branch handles, much more a French tradition than Bohemian. The deep Rare Fuchsia ground is complemented with full 50% circumferential scenes of lovely European villages, lakes & bridges which showcase true old world craftsmanship, and the subtle clouded sky backgrounds are decidedly French in finish. The dual seating rims validate the age, as this style was a feature of many French & German porcelain items as a new quality technique from the industrial revolution ca. 1890-1905. Note the reasonable uniformity and in round of both rings. Our vases stand 9.5 x 6.25 x 13.25 inches tall, weighing a solid 5# 12 oz., and in wonderful condition. See lot #232 to examine our form and very close scenic twin to make an incredible pair. xxxxxxxxxxx. Old Paris Porcelain, or as it was termed in the late 1800s, Vieux Paris Porcelaine, originally referred to between 30 and 40 Parisian porcelain manufactories / decorating houses in latter 18th & first half of the 19th centuries. The Imperial Porcelain Manufactory at Sevres had first produced only gorgeous soft paste porcelain but, subsequent to the discovery of hard paste in 1869, proceeded to supply both formulas until 1802. Originally, the French Monarchy kept a tight rein on any competition, reputedly restricting all non-Imperial porcelain production to be 1 color! Favors were gradually given to the more prominent operations, and by the beginning of the First Imperial Epoch (1804 to 1814) decorated hard paste porcelain was in full swing. This favored group did not include the 75 to 100 small Parisian potters that enjoyed only limited success, and usually short lives. The term Old Paris was coined by dealers, who had no idea who the potter was! As so little of the mid to latter 19th century pieces were actuall signed, it became an axiom ca. the 1920s, pertaining to Potter / Decorators from the Second Republican Epoch (1848 to 1851), and those in the Second & Third Imperial Epochs, lasting until 1904. Today, unfortunately, the term has been bastardized to indicate any unmarked French style porcelain up to the time of the Second World War. During this period, no less than (200) potters with sometimes marked examples, enjoyed the hospitality of the Paris region, including another 50-75 or so that never marked their waresat all! *** A quick McKinley Tariff Act note: From 1891, all imported porcelain wares were required to be stamped / Embossed / Impressed with the country of origin. A large number of unsigned items from 1891 to the 1930s did reach America however, as part of Immigrants collections, gifts purchased in Europe, and simply as beautiful items purchased by tourists. The value of these beautiful items lies in the fact that they had been manufactured expressly for the local markets, and never intended for Export, ergo no stamp was necessary. xxxxxxxxxxx. The following is a very small sample list of special Parisian Potter / Decorators operating from the Second Republican Epoch into the 20th century, whose examples may not have been marked. Rue de Paradis studios included; Bastien & Bugeard, E. Bloch, George Borgfeldt, Daudin & Laner, D. Dione & Baudry, Jean Gauthier, Pillivuy & Co. Others were at, 20 Rue de la Harpe, Gerriez Brothers; Rue de la Fontaine au Roi, Gabriel Legrand; Rue de Rivoli, Clement Massier; Rue de Faubourg Poissoniere, Housset becoming Isenbart & Le Cie de Baie de Hudson; Rue de Vaugirard, Theorore Decdk; Rue Martel, David Michel; Rue de Filles de Calvaire, Baillieuy; Boulevard Montmartre, E. Cheron; Rue de la Pierre Levee, M.E. Claus & Bourdois Bloch; Ruede la Folie Merricourt, Charles Sauzin; Rue Beranger, Edme Sampson; Rue de Petites Ecuries, Camille Naudot. The study of early 19th century "Vieux Paris Porcelaine" must be saved for another time, but some revered names from that period are Dagoty, Denuelle, Gille, Edouard Honore, and Neppel. xxxxxxxxxxx. Research consulted: Seventeenth & Eighteenth Century French Porcelain / by George Savage; Goddens Guide To European Porcelain / by Geoffrey Godden: Porcelain of the Nineteenth Century / by Antoinette Fay Halle, Barbara Mundt; The Book of Pottery and Porcelain, Revised & Augmented Ed. / by Warren E. Cox; Directory of European Porcelain / by Ludwig Danckert; Pottery and Porcelain / by Frederick Litchfield; European Ceramics / by R. J. C. Hildyard; Marks & Monograms on European and Oriental Pottery & Porcelain (14th Revised Edition) / by Wm. Chaffers

XA - P152B - Excellent condition and substantial porcelain