Dreweatts 1759
Lot 166
A pair of fine late George III Blue John solid ornamental urns in Neoclassical style, late 18th/early 19th century, the ovoid bodies with domed integral covers and ball finials, on square section slate bases, 21.5cm highProvenance: Private Collection, LondonBlue John, a rare and precious colour banded form of fluorspar, is mined in Castleton, Derbyshire. The mineral's unusual name is said to derive from the French 'bleu jaune' which translates to 'blue yellow' - referring to its lustrous jewel tones. Another, more vernacular theory is that the term 'Blue John' was used by miners to distinguish it from zinc ore, known as 'Black Jack'. Though prized for their rarity and decorative appeal, fluorspars such as Blue John have long been appreciated for their more functional qualities. The Roman poet Martial, writing towards the end of the first century AD, for example claimed that wine tasted better when consumed from a 'murrine' cup. 'Murra' has been identified with fluorspar, and was introduced to the Romans by Pompey the Great after his expeditions in the East (possibly a variety found in Persia, present day Iran) circa 62 AD. Due to its fragility, fluorspar is often heated with a coating of (pine) resin, in order to stabilise the crystals after the mineral is mined. This longstanding manufacturing process may have accounted for the added aroma referred to by Martial. The mineral was so popular in Ancient Rome that, as naturalist and historian Pliny tells us, Emperor Nero himself apparently paid one million sesterces for a cup. Two Roman drinking vessels made of similar fluorspars are held in the collection of the British Museum (the Barber Cup and the Crawford Cup).The present urns date from a time when Blue John was at the height of its popularity, with makers such as Matthew Boulton and Robert Adam incorporating the fluorspar into their decadent works of art and society commissions.A vase of similar shape and with comparable arrangement of banding was sold at Christie's New York, 28 April 2010, Lot 109.Condition Report: These urns bear the usual very minor marks, knocks and scratches overall consistent with age.One of the the urns has an old restoration of circa 0.5-1cm to the edge of the body, and an area of shallow chipping/nibbling of circa 2cm wide on the opposite side.The other also has one shallow chip to the shoulder of the body (circa 0.5-1cm), and a possible restoration to the upper rim.One has an old repair to the socle.One urn has detached from its slate base, though this is a clean separation and it could presumably be easily reattached.Overall these are well preserved, and the colouring of the purple banding is very vibrant.Condition Report Disclaimer
