A George III ormolu mounted white marble vase by Matthew Boulton

Date	1775
Period	George III
Origin	English
Medium	Marble, Ormolu
Dimensions	21.5 x 12.5 cm (8¹/₂ x 4⁷/₈ inches)
Gallery	Ronald Phillips Ltd

Description
Technical

A George III ormolu mounted white marble wing figured vase by Matthew Boulton.
Note: The pierced lid and the suspended chains are restorations.
An exceptionally rare and possibly unique variation of the wing figured vase.
So far there is no other model known to exist that has a marble body and socle.
All the other examples are made solely of ormolu. A pendent finial is attached to the marble body where on the ormolu models a suspended burner would be. The unusually decorated rim to the marble body featuring Prince of Wales's feathers is possibly unique. The standard models feature guilloche decoration to this component.

The inspiration for this vase derives from a drawing by Michelangelo Pergolesi. The vases were produced in two variations, with and without a pedestal like the model here.
Matthew Boulton included several wing figured vases in his promotional sale at Christie's in 1772. The design was new at the time and proved to be a success.
Examples of wing figured vases in their original home survive at Blenheim Palace and Osterley Park.
A single vase without pedestal and lacking the suspended burner is in the collection at Temple Newsam in Yorkshire.

Date: 1775
Period: George III
Origin: English
Medium: Marble, Ormolu
Dimensions: 21.5 x 12.5 cm (8¹/₂ x 4⁷/₈ inches)
Provenance: Private collection, England.
Literature: Ralph Edwards & Percy Macquoid, The Dictionary of English Furniture, revised edition, London 1954, Vol. III, p. 16, Fig. 2.
Christopher Gilbert, Furniture at Temple Newsam House and Lotherton Hall, Vol. II, Leeds 1978, pp. 394/385, ite, 510.
Nicholas Goodison, Matthew Boulton - Ormolu, London 2002, pp. 356-358.
Going Once - 250 Years of Culture Taste and Collecting at Christie's, London 2016, p. 302.
Categories: Furniture