Griffin Vase
workshop of Matthew Boulton (Birmingham 1728 - Birmingham 1809)
Date
1770 - 1771
Materials
Ormolu, Blue John, Gilt
Measurements
56.00 cm (H)41.00 cm (W)
Place of origin
Birmingham
Order this imageCollection
Hinton Ampner, Hampshire
NT 1529851
Summary
'Griffin Vase' purfume burner with cover. Fluorspar (Blue john) with gilt-bronze (ormolu) mounts, made in the workshop of Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and John Fothergill (1728-1782), after a design by Sir William Chambers (1722-96), Birmingham, England, about 1770-71.
Full description
This elaborate object, for burning perfume oils or pastilles, was made by the manufacturers Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) and John Fothergill (1728-1782), after a design by Sir William Chambers (1722-96). No exact design is known for this model of perfume-burner, supported by three griffins, but it relates to ‘Griffin Vase [s]’ in Boulton's first sale at Christie's, London, in 1771.
Provenance
Earl of Lonsdale, Lowther Castle, Cumbria, England. Blanchard, Winchester; purchased for £160 for Hinton Ampner House by Ralph Dutton, December 1948.
Makers and roles
workshop of Matthew Boulton (Birmingham 1728 - Birmingham 1809), factory after Sir William Chambers Kt (Göteborg 1723 - London 1796) , designer
References
Goodison, 1974: Nicholas Goodison. Ormolu: the work of Matthew Boulton. London: Phaidon, 1974., pp.157-158. Fig.89 Harris & Snodin 1996: John Harris & Michael Snodin (eds.), Sir William Chambers; Architect to George III. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1996., pp.160-162; Fig.242 Jackson-Stops 1985: Gervase Jackson-Stops (ed.), The Treasure Houses of Britain: five hundred years of private patronage and art collecting, exh. cat. The National Gallery of Art, Washington, New Haven and London 1985, No.271