Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Foundling Vase, 1762

The Victoria & Albert Museum

This elaborate vessel is known as “The Foundling Vase” because it was presented in 1763, a year after it was made, to the Foundling Hospital in London. The Foundling Hospital housed Britain's first public art gallery, and the vase was given for public display by Dr. George Garnier.

The vase was made at the Chelsea porcelain factory in London. A work of soft-paste porcelain, it is painted in enamel colors in reserves on a Mazarine blue ground. Gilt details add further luster.

This was made as one of a pair, however, the two were separated soon after creation. Its mate, now known as the Chesterfield Vase, remained unsold at the Chelsea factory, until 1770 when it was purchased by the Earl of Chesterfield.

The Foundling Vase remained on display at the Foundling Hospital until 1869, when it was sold for £1,500 to the Earl of Dudley who had already bought its companion for “upwards of £2,000” from the Earl of Chesterfield. Both are now in the collection of the V&A.

The pair was inspired by Sévres porcelain vases of the era. The Chelsea Factory adapted visual themes from Sévres in this piece, including the elaboration of the Rococo scrollwork handles, the tooled gilding, the “mazarine” blue ground and the richly-enameled panels.