{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O86254"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O86254/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM3783/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2007BM3783/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2007BM3783","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2007BM3784","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AU8837","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O86254/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O86254","accessionNumber":"261-1864","objectType":"Candlestick","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Historical significance: The light-coloured clay of Saint-Porchaire produced a uniquely pale and desirable ceramic. However, the chemical composition of the clay rendered it extremely vulnerable during firing, which resulted in the need for small-scale decoration. Such labour-intensive and exquisite work was available only to the most wealthy patrons. Although a certain amount of mystery surrounds the origin of these pieces, it is thought they would have had a market in only the most noble and courtly circles; an association confirmed by the armorial device of Henri II on this candlestick. \n\nThis elaborate candlestick is one of about seventy surviving pieces in a mannerist style characteristic of French court fashion around 1550. The way in which they combine different components in several tiers is more typical of contemporaneous metalwork and architectural design than of pottery. \r\n\r\nBy 1842 these pieces were described as \"faïence de Henri II\" because the emblems of the French king and his wife, Catherine de' Medici, together with those, as was then thought, of his mistress Diane de Poitiers, appear on more than one example. Because of its presumed royal connection, its style, its technical complexity, and its rarity, Saint-Porchaire ware became the type of ceramic most sought after by collectors, along with so-called Medici porcelain.","physicalDescription":"Elaborate candlestick of lead-glazed earthenware on a wide base and composed of several tiers; decorations of the cypher of King Henry II, the arms of France, figures and patterns coloured in red, green and blue against a light background.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"earthenware","id":"x29356"},{"text":"lead glaze","id":"AAT233430"}],"techniques":[{"text":"throwing","id":"AAT53908"},{"text":"modelling (forming)","id":"AAT53130"},{"text":"moulding","id":"AAT53134"},{"text":"stamping","id":"AAT53138"},{"text":"incising","id":"AAT53847"},{"text":"inlay (process)","id":"AAT53850"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Lead-glazed earthenware; techniques include throwing, hand modelling, moulding, stamping, incising and inlay work","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"},{"text":"Earthenware","id":"THES48964"},{"text":"Figures & Decorative ceramics","id":"THES48954"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":["2007BM3783","2007BM3784","2006AU8837"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"62","id":"THES49739"},"free":"","case":"CA15","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Candlestick","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Saint-Porchaire","id":"x45581"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Paris","id":"x29068"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1547-1559","earliest":"1542-01-01","latest":"1559-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"32","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"17","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Bought for the Museum by  John Webb for 750 l.\r\nCollection Benjamin-Eugène Norzy, Paris, sold 12-13 February 1864\r\nAcquired by Mr. Norzy from collection of Mme de La Sayette. Sale, Catalogue d'objets d'art et de curiosités... composant la collection de feu Mme de La Sayette, ... / Roussel 1860 Vente 1860-04-28. Paris, lot 1., (Annotated version of the catalogue in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris gives the price of 18,300 francs.\r\nFrom the collection of Mme. de la Sayette of Poitiers (who purchased it in that city ca. 1845).","historicalContext":"The rare and enigmatic group of ceramics known as 'Saint-Porchaire' is distinguished by the uncommon lightness of its clay body and their elaborate decoration. The Mannerist ornament of ceramic objects, such as these, can be related to contemporary metalwork designs and architectural fantasies.","briefDescription":"Candlestick, lead-glazed earthenware with tiered decorations, French, Saint-Porchaire or possilbly Paris, ca.1550.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"Baker, Malcolm, and Brenda Richardson (eds.), <i>A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum</i>, London: V&A Publications, 1999.","id":"AUTH348910"},"details":"","free":""},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Thierry Crépin-Leblond, <u>Une Orfèvrerie de Terre: Bernard Palissy et la céramique de Saint-Porchaire</u>, Pairs 1997"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Delange, C., Recueil des fayences françaises dites de Henri II et Diane de Poitiers, Paris 186, p. 32 and Plate (not numbered).\r\ntext transcribed:\r\nLike the previous one, this candlestick is encrusted with ornaments of red paste; it is about the same size, but the composition is richer and more complicated; it has two superimposed knots, one of which is flanked by caryatid figures which confine the angles of the two triangular saltcellars. In addition to the intertwined et de l'H indicated on our drawing, we see the shield with the arms of France. The late M. Charles Sauvageot says in his notes on the earthenware of Henri II: “It had remained for a very long time with a locksmith in this town (Poitiers).” A few years before the death of M. Préaux, this amateur had suffered a dangerous illness, and during his fever he spoke only of the desire to possess this piece of which he had just learned of its existence. Madame Préaux, in a rather bad season, left to go and buy it; she offered 8 or 900 francs for it, but could not get it. A little later, Madame de Lasayette, a distinguished amateur, acquired it. This piece was thus contested by two ladies. At the sale of Madame de Lasayette's collection, Mr. Norzy bought it for the sum of 16,000 francs. It is above all to this piece that the reflections that we have just made (article on the salt cellar of M. d'Yvon) can be applied on the occasion of the criticisms addressed to the earthenware of Henri II, the order of which opposes certain architectural rules."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"crests","id":"AAT233389"},{"text":"figures","id":"AAT189808"},{"text":"cherubs","id":"AAT250465"},{"text":"masks (design elements)","id":"x30275"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["261-1864"],"accessionNumberNum":"261","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1864,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1515","2019LT4677","2019LT8386","2023NP8505"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-29","recordCreationDate":"2003-11-25","availableToBook":false}}