28 
EXPOSITION AT VIENNA. 
Henki-deux Wake. 
The Mintons also exhibited specimens of another remarkable 
form of decorative wäre—imitations of the celebrated faience 
of Heuri-deux. These specimens were much admired, and 
commanded high prices from amateur collectors. They were 
copies of famous pieces. Among them were two fall salt- 
dishes or Stands, one of which was purchased by a citizen of 
Boston and presented to the Athemeum, where it can he seen. 
The difficulty and expense attending the manufacture, make 
these objects very costly, but the price is doubtless high in 
Proportion to the extreme rarity of the wäre, and the limited 
demand for it. Of the original wäre, there are said to be 
only fifty-five pieces known. There are twenty enumerated 
in the list of photographs of specimens in the colleetions at 
South Kcnsington, including two in the Louvre. Brongniart 
in his treatise says that about thirty-seven were known in 
France.* This wäre has always excited great interest among 
collectors and connoisseurs, based upon its intrinsic beauty 
and novelty, and its extreme rarity. The pieces have sold 
for fabulous prices. Au aiguiere, or ewer, belonging to Mr. 
Magniac was purchased for £80 at the sale of M. Odiot’s 
collection in 1842, and shortly after was sold for £96, and 
has since been valued at £2,000. A circular platcau in 
the South Kensington Museum, purchased originally by M. 
Espoulart, of Maus, for £3 4s., wasbought in 1857 for £140. 
At the sale of the collection of the Comte de Pourtales, in 
March, 1865, the “Bibernon” was purchased, by Mr. 
Malcolm, for the sum of £1,100. This Biberon is one of the 
best known specimens of the wäre. A Capital tigure is givcn 
in Brongniart, pl. xxxvii. It Stands a little overten inches in 
height, and bears the arms of France with a Coronet, and the 
initials and emblems of Diane de Poitiers. The ciphers and 
armorial bearings, which appear on so many specimens, 
indicate, beyond doubt, that this wäre was the favorite at the 
brilliant court of Francis I., and Henry II. Its origin was 
for a time in doubt, and has been the subject of much specu- 
* At tliat time the most interesting specimens were in the possession of M. 
Saurageot, M. Odiot, M. Preaux, and M. Count Pourtales. The Ceramic Museum 
at Sevres had only two.