Pair of Vases Duplessis
Vincennes Porcelain Manufactory
French, 1755
Soft-paste porcelain
At left: 7 5/8 × 4 × 3 1/2 in. (19.4 × 10.2 × 8.9 cm)
At right: 7 3/8 × 4 1/4 × 3 5/8 in. (18.7 × 10.8 × 9.2 cm)
Gift of Miss Helen Clay Frick, 1934
Jean-Claude Duplessis is credited with designing the shape of these vases, one of the oldest produced by the porcelain manufactory in Vincennes. A successful model, it was made in at least five different sizes, always with a white ground and colorful flowers in relief; most are decorated with sprays of flowers and flowering branches. The floral garlands on this pair were painted by Denis Levé (act. 1754–1800), a specialist in flowers and ornaments who contributed to the decoration of several dinner services, including one presented by Louis XV to Christian VII of Denmark in 1768.