Vase on Ebay

[Hauptmann]

Hi all,

I just spotted this on Ebay and thought it might be of interest:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Vase-Smashed-b...1QQcmdZViewItem

Dan

[Ulsterman]

Actually, that is rather cool.

[Laurence Strong]

Would it have any hallmarks to confirm the potter?

[Hauptmann]

Hi all,

To save it here for posterity:

Description from Auction:

This vase was owned by Catherine the Great, smashed by Napoleon, restored, brought to America -- and that's just the beginning of the story.

History and Provenance:

The story in the April 8, 1927 New York Times (and elsewhere) runs like this--

This legendary vase's original owner was Catherine the Great, who later gave it to Louis de Cobenzel, a renowned Austrian diplomat. While Cobenzel was conducting peace-treaty negotiations at Camp Formo with Napoleon (then a general), Cobenzel intimated that he was considering enlisting Russian aid. Napoleon was furious and declared, "The truce is now ended and war is declared--but beware! Before autumn is over, I shall shatter your empire like I shatter this vase." And with that, Napoleon picked up the vase and smashed it in the fireplace."

Fortunately, Napoleon's brother Joseph was also at the conference. According to the report, Joseph gathered the pieces and had the vase restored. After Napoleon's fall from power, Joseph brought the vase to America where he later gave it to a friend, Adam David Logan.

Mr. Logan gave the vase to Miss Mary B. Alburtis, a young New York society woman to whom he was betrothed. However, Mr. Logan died before their wedding day and Miss Alburtis kept the vase in his memory until she bequeathed it to Dr. Martha Huson, her physician.

Dr. Huson later borrowed $3000 from a nurse, Miss Margaret Conway. Dr. Huson pledged the vase as collateral for the loan, which she was unable to repay. Yet, Dr. Huson did not want to turn the vase over. She estimated its value as $150,000 ($1,796,137 in today's dollars). However, a judgment was issued against Dr. Huson, and the vase was set to be sold at auction to pay off the debt.

Apparently the auction never happened. The article concludes by reporting that possession of the vase had been transferred to Miss Conway. Current owners of the vase are relatives of a friend of Miss Conway to whom she eventually gave the vase.

Description of Vase:

The vase features a richly painted portrait believed to be that of Catherine II of Russia.

Its base has a dark-red, inverted 'N' surmounted by five stars.

The damages to the vase brought on by Napoleon's temper tantrum have been repaired, and the vase is again fully intact. Interestingly, the cracks help to authenticate the vase?they exactly match the cracks pictured in the New York Times article.

There is significant corrosion and peeling inside the mouth of the vase. Furthermore, the nut and bolt to attach the base is corroded.

The base can be reattached to the vase itself: there is an opening in the bottom of the vase that is the right size to accommodate the bolt. Yet, insofar as the condition of this vase is the highlight of its story, we are leaving all assembly and restoration decisions to the buyer.

The vase's dimensions are as follows:

Height (vase only) 13 1/2"

Height (inc. base) 16 1/2"

Width mouth 5"

Width widest part 10"

Alternative Version of the Story:

Here's another version of the story taken from John Holland Rose's The Life of Napoleon I (1912). It gives a different picture of how the vase came to be shattered. Regardless of the historical interpretation, it is clear that the vase's fate was the direct result of Napoleon's hot temper.

"...On the fate of these islands a stormy discussion arose, Cobenzl stipulating for their complete independence, while Bonaparte passionately claimed them for France. In one of these sallies his vehement gestures overturned a cabinet with a costly vase: but the story that he smashed the vase, as a sign of his power to crush the house of Austria is a later refinement on the incident, about which Cobenzl merely reported to Vienna -- "He behaved like a fool."

Edited August 14, 2007 by Hauptman

[Hauptmann]

Original NY Times article:

Edited August 14, 2007 by Hauptman

[Hauptmann]

[Hauptmann]

[Hauptmann]

All pics from the auction. If anyone object I'll be happy to remove them. But seems all too often items from auctions are listed with just the auction link and once it's over and removed from their system it's lost for reference. So figured this was the best way to preserve it.

Dan