Athlétisme

Lot n° 91
A rare Sèvres Art Deco porcelain ‘Athlétisme’ vase decorated with designs by Gaston Goor (1902-1977) c.1936 the shape, ‘‘Fontaine No. 2” of cylindrical form with flared choked neck and raised on a circular foot, decorated with the Olympic rings and athletes against a blushed ground, gilt borders, printed marks Sèvres Manufacture Nationale France, P.G. d’ap. Goor 67-35, incised 4326 PN, height 27.2cm Provenance: This vase was originally produced as part of a series, ‘Sports d’hiver’, ‘Athlétisme’ and ‘Natation’ by Sèvres and it is believed that only six ‘Athlétisme’ vases were sold. Presented to local running group Blackheath Harriers (now Blackheath and Bromley Harriers) in February 1937 by French Athletic Club ‘Club Olympic d’Auberville’. The French team came to England to run and be entertained by the local running club. Their visit was recorded in the club’s documentation which reads ‘Who has ever heard before of a team coming to this country from abroad for a training spin with members from an English club!’. During the visit gifts were exchanged, Blackheath gave them a silk pennant in the clubs colours and d’Auberville gave a vase. The vase was presented as a trophy for future competitions in the club. The vase has recently been re-discovered by the club and will be sold to raise money for the running club’s new premises.

Catherine Southon
Ripley Arts Centre
24 Sundridge Avenue
Kent
BR1 2PX Bromley