An elegant and large antique pressed-glass vase from the Portieux crystalworks (1705-2012), George Sand model, with a turquoise blue bowl and amber base with ram's-head supports. The George Sand model signed Portieux was pressed around 1900. Founded in 1705, the crystalworks worked over the centuries for the most prestigious tables, for Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, the writer George Sand, and the Ritz.
A fine pair of 19th-century cachepots in Paris porcelain on a deep green ground, richly adorned with gilt and polychrome floral motifs.
Executed in white ceramic with a matte finish, these two cylindrical vases are animated by a relief decoration evoking irregular, almost organic vertical undulations recalling leaf venation. The work of the material, deliberately irregular and raw, lends the whole a strong decorative character, between craftsmanship and modernity. Italian work of the 1980s.
A pair of vases on stemmed foot in deep, intense yellow porcelain, adorned with finely chased gilt bronze mounts. Frieze decoration, handles in laurel garlands, typical of the Empire vocabulary revisited in the 19th century. French work. Late 19th to early 20th century.
A large Italian majolica centrepiece in Neo-Rococo style, depicting three putti supporting a wide shell-form basin, resting on a triple shaped shell adorned with stylised polychrome foliage. The naturalistic decoration and polychromy are typical of late 19th-century Italian decorative productions, in the tradition of the Capodimonte or Bassano ateliers. Majolica with thick glaze, polychrome decoration. Finely modelled faces. Highly sculptural base. Fine presence and piece of generous volume. Wear to the edges, stabilised crack and enamel crackles typical of antique Italian majolica. Italy, late 19th to early 20th century.
A set of three carved wood panels, executed in a single block, depicting animal scenes. Each panel is carved from a single piece of wood and presents a deep relief, a clean line, together with a handsome group of foliate motifs, leaves and framings entirely carved by hand. The scenes depict a mare and her foal, cattle at pasture and a partridge in a rural setting, typical of the pastoral repertoire of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The reverse, left raw, shows tool marks and confirms a traditional and authentic artisanal work. A very fine early patina.
An elegant and large majolica plate from the workshops of Deruta, the celebrated Italian ceramic centre in Umbria. Signed "S. Volpi" "In Deruta".
Serafino Volpi, ceramicist active in Deruta between 1916 and 1918, became director of the "Maiolica Deruta" manufactory. In 1928, he founded, in partnership with Gino Veschini, the "Maiolica Derutese Volpi" manufactory. The following year, he became its sole proprietor. The firm remained active until the early 1950s. Serafino Volpi played a decisive role in the international renown of Deruta in the 20th century, making the town one of the principal centres of ceramic production in Italy.
The plate depicts a female profile in the manner of the Renaissance Italian "Bella donna". The portrait, of great refinement of features, stands out against a deep blue ground. The border, typical of the Deruta tradition, presents a decoration of stylised dragons, foliage, polychrome flowers and a mascaron. The palette is luminous. Some marks on the edges. Italy, mid-20th century. Signed S. Volpi, in Deruta.
A sommerso vase in Murano glass executed according to the traditional technique of superposing layers of molten glass, requiring perfect mastery of hot work. This method achieves a depth of material and an optical density particularly remarkable, signatures of the great Muranese productions of the 20th century. The smoky amethyst hue, enclosed in a thick mass of clear glass, creates a subtle interplay of transparency and depth. The decoration is underlined by an architectural faceting with taut and clean lines, conferring on the piece an assertive sculptural presence. This vase belongs to the great tradition of formal research conducted at Murano in the 1960s-1970s, a period during which glass was envisaged as a true material of architecture and sculpture, beyond its purely decorative function. Perfect condition. No chips or nicks. Murano-Italy, 20th century, circa 1960-1970.
A ceramic sculpture figuring a seated cat, treated in a stylised manner. The piece is covered with a deep brown glaze, animated with amber and ochre nuances. The surface presents chromatic variations. The modelling is fluid, highlighting the full volumes of the body and the softness of the dorsal line. Origin: Normandy region, probably Bavent.
An elegant pair of ceramic vases, signed Louis Dage. The hand-painted decoration depicts a stylised marine scene: a sailboat on a green sea, an orange sunset, framed by large black circular cartouches on a deep cobalt blue ground with clouded effects. The composition, at once geometric and poetic, fits fully within the Art Deco aesthetic: simplification of forms, graphic lines, contrast of vivid colours and flat areas. The two vases form a pair of strong presence. Louis Dage is a major figure of French ceramics of the interwar period. Established in Antony from the early 1920s, he developed a production emblematic of the Art Deco style, combining pure forms and hand-painted decorations in intense colours. In perfect condition.
An exceptional and rare three-handled vase executed by the master ceramicist Jean Gerbino. This piece is a masterly testimony of the savoir-faire of Vallauris during its "golden age". The originality of this work lies in the mosaic clay technique, a unique process developed by Gerbino after 15 years of research. It is not a painted decoration, but a true marquetry of clays coloured within the mass, meticulously assembled before turning. The decoration is composed of a wide central frieze presenting polychrome Compass Roses, surrounded by complex registers of checkerboards and organic motifs in turquoise, ochre and umber tones. An exceptional piece of rare dimensions, this vase stands apart from the routine productions of the atelier. The precision of the mosaic joins and the finesse of the glaze coverage testify to a very high quality of execution. The piece is in perfect condition, without any chips or cracks. Signature: stamp beneath the base "Gerbino" "Vallauris (AM)".
About the artist: Jean Gerbino (1876-1966) is one of the most prestigious names of 20th-century French ceramics. Grand prix of the Exposition Boulle in 1931, he created an instantly recognisable style, combining the art of antique mosaic with the modernity of form. France, 20th century, circa 1950.
A splendid prestige jardinière in grand feu faience, from the workshops of the celebrated Touraine manufactory Jaget et Pinon (1890-1919 period). This masterpiece stands out for its decoration "with Eagles and Bees", the most noble and sought-after iconography of Touraine production.
Colour & Enamel: an enamel ground in Imperial green of rare depth, obtained by grand feu firing, offering a striking contrast with the gilding.
Ornamentation: rich fine-gold decoration composed of two confronted Imperial Eagles and a sprinkling of Napoleonic bees.
Side pieces: animated handles in relief figuring oak branches laden with acorns, emblems of strength and permanence, entirely enhanced with gold.
Frieze: neck girded with a frieze of Neoclassical scrollwork and palmettes on a dark green band.
Perfect state of preservation. Very brilliant enamel. Gilding showing slight signs of use on the reliefs consistent with its antiquity. Weight 6.700 kg.