Vase (vase cannelés à bandeau) (one of a pair)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite *Vase (vase cannelé à bandeau)*, one a pair produced by the Sèvres Manuf around 1770 and painted Charles Nicolas Dodin, as a pinnacle of French Rococo porcelain artistry. Crafted from soft-paste porcelain—a delicate, translucent material that mimicked costly Chinese hard-paste imports—its 14-inch height and fluted (cannelé) body with a banded (bandeau) motif the opulent tastes of Louis XV's court. Sèvres, the royal factory near Versailles, held a monopoly on luxury porcelain, blending technical innovation with lavish decoration for elite patrons. Dodin, a master enamel painter at Sèvres, adorned the vase with vibrant scenes likely featuring men, women, and dogs in pastoral or domestic vignettes, a popular motif evoking leisure and harmony. These intricate overglaze enamels, fired at low temperatures, allowed for rich colors and fine details that captured the era's playful elegance. Soft-paste's subtle glow enhanced the artwork's jewel-like quality, making it a status symbol in grand *salons*. Today, this gift from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation to The Metropolitan Museum of Art invites us to appreciate how Sèvres porcelain bridged art and craft, embodying Enlightenment-era refinement and France's cultural dominance in decorative arts.

About the Artist

Sèvres Manufactory|Charles Nicolas Dodin · 1740–present

The Sèvres Manufactory, one of Europe's premier porcelain producers, was established in 1740 as the Manufacture de Vincennes under the patronage of Queen Marie Leszczyńska, who sought to rival Meissen and Chantilly porcelains with French soft-paste innovations. Initially a private venture, it relocated to Sèvres in 1756 in a purpose-built facility designed by architect Laurent Lindet near Madame d...