20th Century Ceramic Anthropomorphic Mask Sculptural Vase by Vallauris / Accolay France, 1960s

Details

Description

MEASUREMENTS:
Height: 12 cm; Width: 15.5 cm; Depth: 13 cm; Weight: 1.080 kg

Object :
Rare anthropomorphic sculptural vase, entirely … Read more MEASUREMENTS:
Height: 12 cm; Width: 15.5 cm; Depth: 13 cm; Weight: 1.080 kg

Object :
Rare anthropomorphic sculptural vase, entirely modeled, glazed, and decorated by hand, unsigned. Its stylistic and material attribution can be ascribed to the French art ceramics scene of the late 20th century, with a strong and probable connection to the artistic districts of Vallauris or Accolay (circa 1965-1975). The assignment to this specific geographical and cultural context is supported by compelling physical and chemical evidence: the color combination of the glossy amber-brown of the face and the punched acid green of the base reproduces the famous Fat Lava (or "sea foam") effect, a true French trademark of that era. Furthermore, the aesthetic of the hieratic face with its elongated features and the subsequent development of phytomorphic and organic elements (fleshy petals or aerial roots) faithfully reflect the primitivist and ethnic vein popularized on the French Riviera by the Cubist influence of Pablo Picasso. Structurally, the work measures 12 cm high, 15.5 cm deep, and 13 cm wide, with a considerable specific weight of over 1 kg; the lower support base features a dense mixture of ochre refractory clay rich in chamotte, worked raw with clear traces of manual pressure that exclude the use of lathes or industrial molds. The application of the artistic glazes demonstrates a complex firing in a reducing atmosphere, a technique that allowed the metal oxides to react, creating exceptional iridescent crystallizations and iridescent blue-silver hues, particularly visible in the vitreous depth of the glazes on the eyelids.

Information on the artist and/or manufacturer:
The Vallauris district, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, boasts a pottery tradition dating back to Roman times, but has experienced an unprecedented artistic renaissance since 1948, the year Pablo Picasso chose to settle there and collaborate with the Ramiés' Madoura factory. This event transformed the small town into a magnet for the global artistic avant-garde, attracting masters such as Marc Chagall, Joan Miró, and Fernand Léger, and spurring the International Biennials of Ceramic Art that established Brutalist and Organicist design worldwide. At the same time, the Accolay artisan community, active in Burgundy from 1944 to 1989 and founded by a group of students of Alexandre Kostanda, distinguished itself for its extreme experimentation with volcanic glazes, glass inclusions, and forms inspired by archaeology and pristine nature. The results of this expressive period are now documented in important permanent institutions, including the Musée National de la Céramique in Sèvres and the Musée de la Céramique in Vallauris, testifying to an era in which terra cotta transcended its mere utilitarian function to become a pure plastic and sculptural expression. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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