Old Paris Porcelain Inkstand

This porcelain inkstand is molded with flowing Rococo-inspired curves and embellishments and hand-painted with floral bouquets and gilt accents.  It is designed with a central, elongated tray that serves as a pen tray. Flanking this pen tray on either side are circular depressions fitted to hold the inkwell and the sander. Both the inkwell and sander have fitted lids. Rising from the center of the inkstand is a prominent shell-shaped element. This is a classic decorative motif of the Rococo period, which heavily influenced “Vieux Paris” (Old Paris) porcelain.

The porcelain itself has a fine, white body, typical of French porcelain from this era. The hand-painted decoration displays a variety of colorful flowers, meticulously rendered. The edges and raised elements of the molding are highlighted with gilding. The color palette includes rich blues, pinks, reds, purples, and greens in the floral designs, often accented with gold.

What does “Vieux Paris” (Old Paris) mean?

“Vieux Paris” is a term used to describe the diverse array of porcelain manufacturers that were active in Paris and its surrounding areas primarily during the late 18th and the first half of the 19th century (roughly from the 1770s to the 1850s). It’s not the name of a single factory but rather a collective term for the numerous independent porcelain workshops that flourished in the French capital after the Royal monopoly at Sèvres began to wane.

Key characteristics of “Vieux Paris” porcelain include:

• Diverse Styles: Production encompassed a wide range of styles, reflecting the changing tastes of the period, from late Louis XVI and Neoclassical to Empire and Restoration. Rococo revival elements were also popular.
• Hand-Painted Decoration: Pieces were almost always meticulously hand-painted with a variety of subjects, including floral designs, landscapes, figures, and often rich gilding.
• Lack of Uniform Marks: Unlike Sèvres with its consistent marks, “Vieux Paris” porcelain often carries the marks of individual workshops, which can be varied and sometimes difficult to attribute definitively. Some pieces may be unmarked.
• High Quality: Despite the many different makers, the overall quality of “Vieux Paris” porcelain was generally very high, catering to an affluent clientele.
• Tableware, Decorative Items, and Desk Accessories: Production included a wide variety of items, such as dinner services, tea and coffee sets, vases, figures, and desk accessories like this inkstand.