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Possibly by Vulliamy & Son, the porcelain Kangxi The gadrooned neck above a foliate band flanked by twin chimerical lion -mask handles isuing S-scrolled stems joined by a pearled band, the porcelain body decorated overall with scrolling peonies, above a further pearled band, lacking base mount 101/4 in. (26 cm.) high PROVENANCE Possibly bought by Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath (1765-1837) for Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent to John Alexander, 4th Marquess of Bath (1831-1896) Longleat, Wiltshire and by descent at Longleat. LITERATURE 1896 Inventory (4th Marquess' Heirlooms), f 50 r Ante Dining Room, 'An old Celadon ware gourd shaped bottle mounted gilt ormolu Empire period - height 11 inches'. NOTES The triple-gourd Chinese celadon vase with bacchic lion-mask handles was possibly acquired by Thomas, 2nd Marquess of Bath from the celebrated Golden Square porcelain and furniture dealer, Robert Fogg, 'Chinaman' to the Prince of Wales. We know that the Marquess was a client of Fogg's as a bill for a 'Library Table' and 'Japan Chest and Stand' exists in the Longleat archives (NMR E 6 A/7). The vase may have been mounted by the Vulliamy firm of Pall Mall, the family firm that was started in the 1730s by Fran‡ois Justin Vulliamy (1712-1797). Fran‡ois was succeeded by his son Benjamin (1747-1811), the father and latterly partner of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy (1780-1854) with whom he worked. The Vulliamys boasted among their clients not only the leading families in the land, but also members of the Royal family, including George, Prince of Wales, later George IV. The fluid treatment and simple chasing of the arms, foliage and masks are typical of the Vulliamy style, while the chimerical masks appear on a pair of bronze winged lion candlesticks, made and signed by Benjamin Vulliamy in 1811 and inspired by the marble bas-relief fragment of a torch-bearing 'chimiŠre' engraved by Charles Heathcote Tatham in his celebrated Etchings Representing the Best Examples of Ancient Ornamental Architecture, 1799. The candlesticks were sold by Mr. Edward Sarofim, in these Rooms, 16 November 1995, lot 109.