An antique monumental royal blue jardiniere

This monumental Sèvres royal blue and gilt majolica jardinière comprises a wide bowl supported on a vase flanked by three classical female terms with paw feet and set on a fluted white marble column. The richly moulded decoration shows putti and classical maidens bearing amphora against plaited swags and strapwork, all with overpainted gilt ornamentation.

Provenance: Alexander Sandier (1843-1916) began his career as an architect and decorator in New York but returned to Paris in 1882 where he was appointed artistic director of the Sèvres porcelain factory from the 1897 until his death. He was noted for the introduction of designs in the Art Nouveau style and a new palette of strong, dynamic colours. Under his direction the company developed a line of vases named after French cities which were exhibited at both in 1900 Alexandre Sandier was a juror as well as an exhibitor at L’Exposition Universelle and La Sociéte des Artistes Françaises.