Against pale yellow ground, both the front and back cartouches are richly outlined in opulent raised gilding, including two large, elaborate decorations, one at the center neck, and the other, smaller one, at the center base. The upper and lower rims are thickly gilded and beaded, with that at the opening extending 1.50" (3.81 cm) into the vase.

The bases are impressed "S'Denis," with an impressed mold number of "616." Each also has a red overglaze mark that reads "The Vatican," which we dismiss as perhaps a Customs fulfillment. Place these above a fireplace on the mantle; or below, flanking the fireplace; beautiful on either side of a piece of important furniture; even as floor vases upon platforms, or perhaps atop decorative pedestals.

Height of each piece is 21.25" (53.97 cm), 10.75" (27.30 cm) wide, 5" (12.70 cm) deep. Both pieces are in excellent condition, with very slight occasional, rubbing to the gilding; overall, age-confirming crazing; two inconsequential glaze anomalies that we have noticed, both original to manufacture. c. 1850-1890. Shipping quote on request.

SAINT-DENIS HISTORY: Original name of "Faubourg Saint-Denis," hard porcelain manufacturer, was begun in 1771 by Pierre-Antoine Hannong, who registered a lower case "h" as the manufacturer's mark, and at some point, also registered the upper case "H." In 1776, Hannong left the factory, and under the ownership of the Marquis d'Usson, the factory then operated with several different Directors. In 1779, a director, Stahn, took over management, and registered the initials, "CP," with a small 3-pointed crown mark above it, indicating the protection of Charles Philippe, Comte d’Artois, himself, an interesting character. Various forms of this mark have appeared in red, blue, and gold. There was also a mark, "Schoelcher," from 1800-1828, for Marc Schoelcher, who we assume was a Director.

Saint-Denis was sometimes known as "Faubourg Saint-Lazare," which was actually the street on which the factory was located. One French language source, by Serge Gauthier, states that Saint-Denis was known for blue and white, and polychromes, and produced porcelains of first quality. We find reference to dates of operation from 1771 to 1828, as pertains to marks. The mark on these vases, of course, was used mid-19th Century.

ARTIST, T. LEROY: Our knowledge of the artist is scant, but we believe he/she to be a decendant of Louis Leroy (-d. 1788), who had a short-lived French porcelain factory, from 1747 - c.1793. We do not know if they manufactured porcelain, or simply decorated blanks of other manufacture.