“Kin-Te-Tchin” Vase by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse for Manufacture Nationale de Sevres.

Dimensions: 37 cm (height) x 14 cm x 14 cm

Flawless condition, dated 1885.

Essay: This porcelain vase with gilded bronze mountings was created in 1884 by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. At that time, the artist was the director of the art department at the Sèvres manufactory, a position he held from 1875 until his death in 1887.

The bulbous vase is coated with a dark blue glaze, enhanced by dripped accents of a lighter blue. The upper section is decorated with two masks depicting chimeras or lions holding rings in their mouths.

The name “Kin-Te-Tchin” was used in 19th-century France (particularly in the Sèvres manufactory) to refer to Chinese-style vases inspired by Jingdezhen porcelain. The form of the Kin-Te-Tchin vase is thought to be influenced by ancient Chinese bronze vessels, particularly Fang-Hu vases, which were recreated in porcelain in the imperial kilns of Jingdezhen.

The elegant drip-glaze of this vase reflects a European fascination with Chinese 19th-century porcelains decorated with dripping glazes. This technique was highly challenging for European manufactories, requiring expert control of oxides and firing processes. Oxides react sensitively to temperature, atmosphere, and flux, making the firing process unpredictable and often yielding unexpected results. The creation of the Kin-Te-Tchin vase model coincided with the recent mastery of this decorative technique at Sèvres. This particular example, with its carefully blended color gradients, is a remarkable testament to the craftsmanship of the Sèvres workshops.

This vase can be compared to another Kin-Te-Tchin vase housed in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, which features a similar decorative style. It is also depicted in Brigitte Ducrot’s book, Second Empire & IIIe République: De l’Audace à la Jubilation. Another vase of this form, featuring a vivid purple decoration on a red “Oxblood” background, is preserved in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.