The Royal Porcelain Manufactory at Sèvres

French ceramic production in the 18th century was effectively controlled by the Royal Family. Through the granting of letters patent, favoured manufactories were permitted to bypass the restrictions ordinarily imposed by the guild system. As a result, royal patronage was highly sought after, and no factory benefited more from this system than Sèvres.

The manufactory was originally established at Vincennes under the auspices of Queen Marie Leczinska, before being transferred in 1756 to a redundant royal château at Sèvres. Under the reign of King Louis XV, the factory entered its most celebrated period. The King exerted a direct influence on artistic style, forms and production, while simultaneously providing an elite clientele at the court of Versailles. Selected pieces were also permitted to be sold through the marchands merciers of Paris, ensuring Sèvres porcelain was both fashionable and highly desirable.

By the late 1750s, Sèvres had become the most prestigious porcelain manufactory in Europe, rivalled only by Meissen. Following the disruptions of the Seven Years’ War, it would for a time even surpass its great German competitor in both innovation and artistic excellence.

Vase Hollandois

The vase hollandois offered here was produced during this golden age. Both Louis XV and Madame de Pompadour are recorded as having ordered vases of this form, as did other members of the royal family and court. Today, notable examples can be found in the Wallace Collection, the Royal Collection, and the Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor.

A vase hollandois is essentially a flowerpot, designed either for the cultivation of bulbs in soil or for the display of cut flowers. The lower section functions as a reservoir for water. These vases were produced in three sizes; the third and largest size - introduced from 1758 - is the rarest. The example offered by Dreweatts belongs to this most elusive category.

Amelia Bischoffsheim

The vase’s provenance further enhances its importance. It once belonged to Amelia Catherine Bischoffsheim, the daughter of the prominent 19th-century financier of the same name. The Bischoffsheims were related to other prominent London banking families such as Hirsch, Goldschmidts, Sterns and Rothschilds. It should be noted that the Rothschild family were known to have assembled one of the greatest collections of Sèvres porcelain formed in the 19th century.

In 1882, Amelia Bischoffsheim married Sir Maurice FitzGerald Bt. (1844-1916) and in 1909 Sir Maurice acquired Buckland House, Farringdon, Oxon. On the death of Lady FitzGerald in 1947, the estate was left to her grandson, Major Richard Wellesley, and the vase has remained in the family ever since. As such, it can be stated with considerable confidence, that this vase hollandois has not appeared on the open market for approximately 150 years - making its forthcoming appearance at Dreweatts a rare and exciting opportunity for collectors and institutions alike.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 18 February 2026, 10.30am GMT
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

Bidding is available in person at our salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids.

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