Today's purchases

18th c. Paris porcelain Duc D'Angouleme Factory Rue de Bondy double Wine-bottle cooler (seau à bouteille). Dating from the 1780's. 

Last week I was very bad on ebay. So many wonderful rare things were popping up on the site. My favorate was a late 18th century Paris porcelain double bottle cooler made by the Duc D'Angouleme Factory in Paris.  It is very hard to find a complete set of 18th century French porcelain dinner service. When one does show up it is extremely costly. Over the years I have been piecing together a 18th century French dinner service in the cornflower pattern, one of French Queen Marie Antoinette's favorate flowers. This piece is not in the best of condition and needs repair but because of the age and rarity of the piece I paid more than I like to but still happy I got it. I will have it professionally restored by a local porcelain restorer here in New Orleans. The bottle cooler is decorated in the cornflower pattern with central roundel in the style of Sevres, the undulating sides above two shell-molded handles, the white ground body with extensive gilding and cornflower spring patterns to the sides. Inscribed to underside with the mark of Duc D'Angouleme Factory Rue de Bondy this rare piece was  made for high French aristocracy. Lavish scrolling gilt and swags of tiny gold leaves complete the decoration. This bottle cooler is the epitome of late 18th century French Louis XVI  neoclassical style.

 A NeoClassical Louis XVI roundel with pearl decoration.  

Showing the two side for Wine/Champagne bottles  

The petition in between the cooler is decorative, pierced and trimmed with gold. 

The acanthus leaf handles has lavish scrolling gilt 

The underside showing the Duc D'Angouleme Factory Rue de Bondy mark in iron red. 

18th c. Paris porcelain Duc D'Angouleme Factory Rue de Bondy double Wine-bottle cooler (seau à bouteille). Dating from the 1780's.