Sèvres Manufactory's vase japon

Abstract

"Contrary to what one would reasonably think, the design of the Frick's Vase Japon-made in France at the Sèvres Porcelain Manufactory-is based not on a Japanese model but rather on a Chinese bronze probably from the Han dynasty and known from a print first published in 1755. This baffling misnomer is just part of the fascinating story behind this beautiful object made at a time when chinoiserie was so much in vogue in the West. Not only did the shape of the object intrigue contemporary tastemakers, the medium of the vase-porcelain-caused a revolution in the material culture of Europe's aristocracy. In this eighteenth volume of the Frick's Diptych series, Marie-Laure Buku Pongo, the Frick's Associate Curator of Decorative Arts, presents a fascinating picture of the context in which the Vase Japon was created and the various international players involved in its realization. Sculptor Arlene Shechet explores the materiality of the piece in relation to her own work"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

A vase is born / Arlene Shechet -- Sèvres Manufactory's vase japon / Marie-Laure Buku Pongo