(jatte à ponche) of octofoil form, the scalloped rim embellished with gilt gadroons suspending tooled gilt floral garlands, the front and reverse painted in the center with gilt birds in flight, some bearing leafy branches, the interior painted with colorful flower sprays and fruit, interlaced L's in blue, with a later fitted wooden box inscribed Castenskiold. 2 pieces.

Collection of Axel von Fersen The Younger (1755-1810), Stockholm, by repute
Collection of Baron de Carl Hochschild (1785-1857), London, sold Christie, Manson & Woods, London, March 1, 1858, lot 1389
His daughter, collection of Louise Frederikke Gustava Bille-Brahe (1830-1910), Copenhagen
Her nephew, collection of Henrik Grevenkop-Castenskiold (1862-1921), London
His wife, Baroness  Elisabeth Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1889-1954), Hellerup
Sankt Lukas Stiftelsen, Hellerup, donated by the above in August 1954
Sold, Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, September 16, 2015, lot 272, to present owner

The bowl is in good condition with no restorations.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present punch bowl is of the same shape as an approximate 23-centimeter wide salad bowl (saladier), designed by Jean-Claude Duplessis, possibly around 1750 (figs. 2 and 3). Affixed with rococo scroll handles that are characteristic elements of Duplessis’ style, the present punch bowl with its large size and unusual shape appears to be a rare example of the form at Sèvres. Plain circular punch bowls of smaller size have appeared occasionally at auction, including the example from the Collections of Hanns and Elizabeth Weinberg and the Antique Company of New York, sold in these rooms, November 10, 2006, lot 660.

Duplessis was the master designer of shapes at the Vincennes and Sèvres manufactories from 1748 onwards and produced designs for vases as well as useful wares. During the early years of his appointment, he created particularly exuberant styles, in part possibly owing to his training as an ormolu-worker. However starting from about 1750, his designs became more restrained and simplistic, although rococo elements were still a persistent part of his creations. His designs are discussed by Svend Eriksen and Geoffrey de Bellaigue in Sèvres Porcelain, Vincennes and Sèvres, 1740-1800, pp. 81-82.

The gilt decoration with fantasy birds, which is so often seen on wares with the bleu lapis ground, was adapted from Japanese lacquer, but went out of fashion a few years after it was introduced circa 1752. The unusual combination of the gilt bird decoration with the turquoise-blue ground on the present bowl were stylistically at the height of fashion during the brief early period of 1752-56. A piece of this scale could perhaps have been a special commission; however it has not been possible to find a reference to this piece in the Sèvres archives to support any specific attribution.

The bowl is accompanied by a hand-written note, possibly dating to the late 19^th or early 20^th century, claiming its ownership by Count von Fersen, a known friend of Marie Antoinette. Although this provenance cannot be proved, it is interesting to note the residential proximity of the Hochschild family's apartment to that of Count von Fersen. Both Baron de Carl Hochschild, and his father, Rutger Fredrik Hochschild, were Swedish diplomats residing in the Utrikesministerhotellet (Foreign Hotel), where state officials, including Von Fersen, and ambassadors lived starting from the mid-1700s.

When the punch bowl was sold in 1858, it caught the attention of Johan Carl Hellberg (1815-77), a Swedish editor and officer, who wrote in his memoir, Ur minnet och dagboken [From memory and my journal], 1870-75, Vol. 9, p. 40: “His (Baron Hochschild) collection﷽ of old Sèvres porcelain sold in March 1858 in London at unreasonably high prices, for instance a very nice cup and saucer for 36 pound sterling; two pairs of oval shaped jardinières from 1753 for 150 guinea; 8 plates for 35 pound sterling; one splendid punch bowl from 1753 for 150 guinea…..the whole collection sold for almost 1,500 pound sterling.” "The splendid punch bowl" surely referring to the present piece.