1985.R.903.A-C, Vase, porcelain, 1662-1722

This vase is part of a set of vases called garnitures. Possibly first seen on temple altars by 16th or 17th century European visitors to China, garnitures of vases became popular items of interior decoration in Europe during the later 17th century continuing through the 19th century.  They were assembled from the numerous single pieces imported into Europe for use on mantelpieces, furniture, on overdoor cornices, cabinet tops, as well as on tables and shelves. The arrangement consisted of the covered jar form, as seen here, usually placed centrally and flanked or separated by beaker-form vases or otherwise alternating the shapes depending on their combinations. Garniture sets of three, five, or seven were common.

Until 1964: Armin Lemp Firm, Zürich, Switzerland [1] 

1964: Emery Reves (1904-1983), purchased from Armin Lemp Firm, Zürich, Switzerland, July 22, 1964 [1] 

1964-1985: Emery Reves (1904-1983) and Wendy Reves (1916-2007) (owned jointly), La Pausa, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France [1][2]

From 1985: Dallas Museum of Art, The Wendy and Emery Reves Collection, gift of Wendy Reves (1916-2007) [2]

[1] According to an original invoice found in the object file from Armin Lemp Firm, Zürich, Switzerland (dated July 22, 1964).

[2] According to: Olivier Meslay and Martha MacLeod, From Chanel to Reves (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art, 2015), 4-5.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art~Read more about Chinese Export Porcelain

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