Antique French Blue and White Faience Vases from Desvres, Fourmaintraux-Courquin, 1880s, Set of 2

Details

Description

The vases form an original matched pair, with identical moulded baluster bodies, four-lobed rims and bases, prominent shell-shaped relief panels … Read more The vases form an original matched pair, with identical moulded baluster bodies, four-lobed rims and bases, prominent shell-shaped relief panels and richly hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration. Each vase is painted with a complementary pastoral equestrian scene, one rider moving to the right and the other to the left. Displayed together, the opposing compositions form a harmonious and visually balanced pair.

The reverse sides are decorated with abundant flowers, foliage and vigorous rococo scrollwork. The freehand painting includes finely rendered trees and landscapes, subtle variations in cobalt tone, carefully shaded shell motifs and confident flowing brushwork. The combination of sculptural relief and extensive hand painting demonstrates the quality of Fourmaintraux-Courquin's historicist production at Desvres.

The bases bear freely hand-painted monograms, most probably a connected VR read slightly differently by hand on each vase. Such variation is consistent with Fourmaintraux-Courquin workshop production, where decorators' initials were applied freehand rather than with a standardised printed stamp. The identical dimensions, matching moulded bodies, corresponding relief decoration and complementary equestrian scenes confirm that the vases were conceived and produced as a pair.

Dimensions of each vase: height 20.2 cm; width 13 cm. Weight: 493 g and 524 g. This piece has an attribution mark,
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