The Porcelain of Edmé Samson - from Copies to Antique Table

Porcelain, along with many of our day to day products, was discovered in China over a thousand years ago during the Tang dynasty. That is why, in fact, in the West, we call it “China”, because that’s where it came from!

The discovery of porcelain in Europe, however, did not occur until the early 18th century in the German Princely Electorate of Saxony. The demand became a flood and vast amounts were exported from China.

The wealthy classes sent orders for dinner services via ships’ captains, who, twelve months later, would collect the service from the southern Chinese trading port of Canton. Many of these services were decorated with the family coat of arms of wealthy patrons. They were produced for coffee and tea as well as complete dinner services and were known as “armorial” services. Very few have survived, complete and in original condition. As pieces became lost and broken, so the demand for replacements developed.

Edmé Samson specialised in the reproduction of Chinese export style porcelain from the period when it was fashionable for aristocratic families to order their services and shapes from southern China.

Edmé Samson, born in Paris in 1810, established the porcelain company of Samson-Edmé et Cie in the 1830’s. Samson began his career by producing replacement pieces, but it soon became obvious that his skill at reproduction resulted in superb copies of the original. By the middle of the 19th century Samson was producing porcelain in all shapes in imitation of all the major European factories, as well as Japanese Imari and the famous Famille Rose and Famille Vert styles produced in China between 1720 and 1790. In the 19th century Samson porcelain was considered as copies only, but now, Samson copies are antique, being over 100 years old.

The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co list a number of Samson vases now produced as unique table lamps.

B/026

A very rare pair of French 19th century Edmé Samson et Cie de Paris miniature baluster shaped vases and domed covers as accent lamps. The lamps decorated in 18th century Chinese Famille Rose export style, with sprays and sprigs of summer flowers, the oriental style flowers on a bianco-sopra-bianco ground. The lamps emblazoned with ducal arms with supporters of lions and white swans. The lamps on original carved rosewood stands. A small repair to the rim of one lamp. The lamps standing on circular, turned and gilded bronze bases. It is remarkable to find a pair of miniatures still on their original rosewood stands.

This very pretty little pair of lamps would be described as accent or decorative lighting. Environmental lighting is an important element to our psychological comfort, derived from our “feel” of a room. This stunning pair of French table lamps would be ideal for a side table or fireplace mantle.

Circa 1870 Overall height (including shade) 14.5"/37cm

(Note: Shades are included with these lamps)