Jacob Petit (Paris) Polychrome and Gilt Figural Globe Inkwell

Jacob Petit (Paris) Polychrome and Gilt Figural Globe Inkwell

• Maker: Jacob Petit (Paris, France)
• Period: Mid-19th Century
• Medium: Hard-paste porcelain, polychrome enamels, and gilding
• Dimensions: Height: 7 ¼ inches
• Signature/Mark: Underglaze blue initials “J.P.” with dot accents on the base

Detailed Description

This mid-19^th century figural inkstand from the Parisian manufactory of Jacob Petit depicts a jovial, corpulent seated figure—traditionally styled in European Orientalist taste as a smiling sage or Buddha-like figure—gazing upward with an ecstatic expression. Measuring 7 ¼ inches in height, the sculpture is modeled in a cross-legged seated posture atop an irregular, naturalistic, earthy-toned mound base glazed in mottled greens, browns, and ochres.

With his right hand raised in a contemplative gesture and his left hand steadying an upright cylindrical tool (such as a seal or baton), the figure leans over an ingenious centerpiece: a terrestrial globe supported within an ornate, gilded neoclassical armillary or meridian ring frame.

The Inkwell

The terrestrial globe serves as the primary ink reservoir. The top hemisphere of the globe functions as a lift-off lid, framed by slender gilded half-meridians that meet at a central finial ring. Lifting the globe’s upper dome reveals a removable, white porcelain insert liner with a gilded rim, designed to hold ink. The cartography on the globe is rendered in fine black lines with delicate pastel washes (pinks, greens, yellows), featuring recognizable hand-painted French geographical labels including “EUROPE,” “LAPONIE,” “ASIE,” “GUINEE,” and “HOLLANDE”.

Decoration & Palette

True to Jacob Petit’s signature aesthetic—known for exuberant modeling, vibrant palettes, and a penchant for eclectic global motifs—the porcelain is richly embellished:

• The Robes: The figure’s voluminous robes are a masterclass in polychrome enamel work, finished in a bright white ground densely patterned with flowering branches, blossoms in shades of magenta, blue, and orange, and stylized foliage in vibrant greens. The garment is further accented with turquoise-blue sleeve linings and decorative cartouches containing pseudo-Chinese or stylized character borders rendered in iron-red and gold.
• The Face & Flesh: The figure’s bald head, smiling countenance, and exposed chest are rendered with soft flesh tones, finely penciled facial features, and expressive blue eyes looking heavenward. Large, gilded earrings adorn his lobes.
• Gilding: Rich fire-gilding (ormolu-style gold enamel) highlights the armillary globe stand, the rims of the inkwell opening and liner, the sleeve edges, and structural accents.

Signature & Marks

The underside of the base bears the characteristic underglaze blue signature mark of Jacob Petit: the interlocking or adjacent initials “J.P.” accompanied by balancing fractional dots, confirming authentic manufacture from his Paris studios.