Vases too new for 'Old Paris'

Dear M.W.H.: These vases are glorious, but many serious collectors of "Old Paris" porcelain might dismiss them as being "too Victorian." The term "Old Paris" refers to a wide variety of porcelain items made by a large number of manufacturers working within the environs of the city of Paris during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Examples such as the pair of mantel vases belonging to M.W.H. are from the mid-19th century (circa 1850) and are a little bit late for some purists' tastes. Many enthusiasts are only interested in "Old Paris" that is somewhat earlier and painted in a manner that is associated with the neoclassical motifs of the French Empire, or for some, in the highly regarded Sevres style.

In fact, many collectors would drop the word "Old" and call these pieces "Paris" to emphasize their later origins and to separate them from the earlier production. This seems a bit unfair, but as lovely as these are, they are not considered by many to be in quite the same league as pieces that were made 30 to 40 years earlier.

The vast majority of all "Old Paris" pieces were not marked by their makers, but those that are marked are prized by collectors if authentic and of good quality. Mantel vases that are somewhat similar to these were made in Staffordshire, England, in the mid-19th century, but they are generally smaller, less elaborately molded and gilded, and are more simply decorated.

We have discussed the downside of these vases; now it is time to focus on the positive aspects, which are considerable. The size of these pieces is very impressive, and the fact that they have survived 150 years in near-pristine condition is much to their credit.

The flamboyantly molded leaves and flowers would delight the eye of almost any collector of Victorian porcelain, and the quality of the painting on each piece is well above average. We are particularly taken with the example that has the image of a woman with wings; she seems to be hanging by one hand from a tree limb while trying to catch a butterfly with the other hand.

The companion vase has a more standard depiction of a beautiful lady in a diaphanous pink gown with a billowing blue scarf. Despite the slight rubbing that M.H.W. reports, the gilding still shines, and the insurance replacement value of this pair of mantel vases is between $3,000 and $4,000.

Helaine Fendelman and Joe Rosson are the authors of the "Price It Yourself" (HarperResource, $19.95). Mail questions to P.O. Box 12208, Knoxville, TN 37912-0208.