1950s Mid-Century Modern Rambervillers Cytère Iridescent Blue Stoneware Pitcher

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Description

Sculptural Free-Form Iridescent Ceramic Pitcher by Rambervillers, Attributed to A. Cytere (31 cm / 12.2 in), Metallic Blue Lustre Grès … Read more Sculptural Free-Form Iridescent Ceramic Pitcher by Rambervillers, Attributed to A. Cytere (31 cm / 12.2 in), Metallic Blue Lustre Grès Flammé Glaze (France, c. 1950) - Perfect Condition

At Maisons Rares, every piece is personally curated: beautiful historical objects from famous French designers and manufacturers, and art from the world over.
This striking sculptural pitcher unites a bold, free-form mid-century silhouette with the deep, mirror-bright metallic lustre for which the Rambervillers manufactory is famous.
Marked Grès de Rambervillers beneath the base and attributed to A. Cytere, it is a rare and dramatic collector's piece, a modern form wearing one of the most historic and coveted glazes in French ceramic art.

History & Craftsmanship: Rambervillers and the Lustre of A. Cytere
The iridescent metallic lustre, or grès flamme, of Rambervillers is one of the glories of French ceramics. It was perfected at the turn of the twentieth century by the engineer and ceramist Alphonse Cytere (1861 to 1941), who directed the Societe des Produits Ceramiques de Rambervillers in the Vosges and, working closely with the artists of the Ecole de Nancy, gave his flame-glazed stoneware its celebrated shimmer of peacock blue, gold, and bronze.
These wares became icons of the Art Nouveau movement and are held today in the Musee de la Terre at Rambervillers.
The manufactory continued to produce its signature iridescent glazes under the Cytere and Rambervillers name well beyond the founder's lifetime.

This pitcher belongs to that later, mid-century chapter: a modern, free-form vessel made around 1950, still finished in the deep metallic lustre that made the house famous a half-century earlier, and still marked Grès de Rambervillers on the underside. It is a compelling bridge between the Art Nouveau lustre tradition and postwar modern form.

Design & Aesthetics: Pure Line and Mirror Light
The form is boldly sculptural and unmistakably of its era. From a softly rounded, off-center ovoid base, the body sweeps upward into a tall, canted neck that resolves in a pinched, beak-like pouring lip. A dramatic high loop handle rises in a single confident arc from rim to shoulder, enclosing a generous triangular void that gives the piece its striking asymmetric, modern profile. From every angle, it reads as pure, elegant line.
Over this architecture, the glaze does the talking. A deep, mirror-bright metallic lustre in petrol blue, steel, and warm bronze flows across the entire surface, catching and throwing the light like oil on water or richly patinated metal. The finish shifts constantly as one moves around the piece, giving it a presence far greater than its size, and marking it unmistakably as a product of the Rambervillers tradition.

Condition & Authenticity
This piece is in perfect vintage condition, free from chips, cracks, hairlines, or restoration. The handle, spout, and rim are intact and crisp, and the lustrous glaze is unblemished and beautifully preserved across the whole vessel.
The underside is marked Grès de Rambervillers, identifying the manufactory, and the piece is attributed to A. Cytere. It corresponds directly to documented Rambervillers iridescent production of the 1950s.
Like all pieces from our collection, this item comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Maisons Rares.

Design Context
A metallic lustre piece of this drama is made to be seen. We recommend giving it room to breathe as a standalone sculptural object, on a dark wood console, a marble mantel, or a lacquered shelf, where its mirror-like surface can play against candlelight, brass, or a moody, saturated wall color. It needs no flowers to make its statement, though a few dark stems will echo its jewel tones. It is equally at home in a refined Art Deco interior and a bold contemporary one.

Technical Specifications
Creator / Manufacture: Rambervillers (Societe des Produits Ceramiques de Rambervillers), attributed to A. Cytere
Period: Circa 1950 (1950s)
Origin: Rambervillers, Vosges, France
Material: Iridescent flame-glazed ceramic (grès flamme), metallic lustre glaze
Dimensions: Height 31 cm (12.2 in) Max width approx. 15 cm (5.9 in)
Style: Mid-Century Modern / Free-Form / Metallic Lustre
Condition: Perfect condition, no chips, cracks, or restoration
Authenticity: Marked Grès de Rambervillers under the base, attributed to A. Cytere. Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Maisons Rares. See less