Early 20th Century Porcelaine De Paris Chinoiserie Style Centerpiece Bowl

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Title: Mid 20th Century Porcelaine De Paris Chinoiserie Style Centerpiece Bowl.
Manufacturer: Porcelaine de Paris.
Hand painted by: C. Ottaire.
… Read more Title: Mid 20th Century Porcelaine De Paris Chinoiserie Style Centerpiece Bowl.
Manufacturer: Porcelaine de Paris.
Hand painted by: C. Ottaire.
Place: France.
Period: 1940s.
Material: Porcelain.

Description: Offered is a thick scallop shape centerpiece bowl, features gilt/multi-color hand painted exterior and interior floral chrysanthemum and scroll work banded design over a white ground. The piece is marked on the base with the blue stamped trademark "Porcelaine de Paris" with blue arrows and hand signed by the artist "decore a la main" "Par C. Ottaire".

About the manufacturer: Founded 1773 by Jean-baptiste Locre, Porcelaine de Paris, was one of the first manufactures to use the Chinese secret of porcelain. It immediately aimed for the luxury trade, selling to the Royal Courts of Europe.
But even then, a part of its production was utilitarian: such as wine coolers, fruit baskets, vases etc.
After surviving the French Revolution, Porcelaine de Paris steadily produced tableware as well as purely decorative pieces, vases, boxes etc, receiving orders from all over Europe. Its vitality was unbelievable, creating one new model every day over 30 years!
Around 1830, most of the factories responsible for the glory of porcelain in Paris, closed. However the tradition could not disapper, and new talented men arrived. Among them was Jean-Marx Clauss, a german-born potter who bought a building Rue de la Pierre-Levee, where he took over Locre's activity. "Porcelaine de Paris" stayed at this address until 2002.

Then, M. Achille Bloch run the factory from 1887, until 1914. It is during that period that Porcelaine de paris created 9500 new items. His son Robert took direction of the factory after World War I and transferred a part of the activity to a new factory located 200 miles South of Paris. The decorating studios stayed in Paris, rue de la Pierre-Levee. Robert Bloch was helped by his wife who was a talented painter who worked with Rob Mallet-Stevens. The name "Porcelaine de Paris" associated with the Locre's blue arrows, appeared at that period, exemplified in this piece.

World War II started in 1939. Robert Bloch went to New York with his family. There, he opened the "Blue Arrows Decorating Workshop" on West Third Street. His partner, Paul Molho went to Madrid. And both joined force again in 1945 to bring the old factory of rue de la pierre-Levee back to life.
In 1949, transfers started to be applied to allow a larger and less expensive production. And from that new technique came the idea to decorate sanitaryware, from the toothbrush glass to pedestal basins. An overwhelming favorable response followed.
In the 1980s, Patrick Molho, and Michel Bloit, sons of Paul Molho and Robert Bloch became the heads of the company.

After disappearing from the American market for several years, Porcelaine de Paris is now back, presenting its bath collection of new decors as well as older, classic ones.

It keeps up with the pace of luxury, even in utilitarian products consistently with its policy. This piece represents the time honored past of hand-craftsmanship that the mark's reputation was founded. See less