Red & Gold Art Deco Ceramic Vase, Blanche Letalle for Saint-Clement 1950s

Details

Description

Art Deco Red and Gold Ceramic Trumpet Vase by Blanche Letalle for Saint-Clement (27 x 15 cm / 10.6 x … Read more Art Deco Red and Gold Ceramic Trumpet Vase by Blanche Letalle for Saint-Clement (27 x 15 cm / 10.6 x 5.9 in), Oxblood Glaze with Gilt Rings (France, c. 1950) - Pristine 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 is an elegant French ceramic trumpet vase by the designer Blanche Letalle for the celebrated Faiencerie de Saint-Clement. Its deep oxblood red glaze, banded with bright gilt rings and a gold-lined rim, captures the glamorous Art Deco spirit that Saint-Clement carried into the 1950s, a striking and instantly recognizable decorative statement.

History & Craftsmanship: Blanche Letalle and Saint-Clement
The Faiencerie de Saint-Clement, founded in Lorraine in 1758, is one of the great historic names of French faience. In the postwar decades it enjoyed a celebrated second life through its in-house designer Blanche Letalle, whose sleek, modern forms and bold monochrome glazes, often deep red, black, or celadon green, lifted with gold, defined the house's mid-century look.
Her pieces are signed B. Letalle with a model number and are widely collected today as accessible icons of 1950s French design.
This vase is a fine example of her red-and-gold register: a form conceived for pure decorative impact, its glossy glaze and hand-applied gilding executed to the high standard for which Saint-Clement is known.

Design & Aesthetics: Oxblood and Gold
The vase rises in a bold trumpet, or cornet, form, flaring dramatically from a stepped, gilt-lined foot to a wide, gently everted mouth rimmed in gold. Around the waist, groups of raised horizontal ribs are each highlighted in bright gilt, a crisp, rhythmic Art Deco motif that plays against the depth of the glaze.
The body is finished in a rich, glossy oxblood red that runs from deep bordeaux to a lighter cherry where the light catches it, and the interior is glazed to match. The contrast of that saturated red with the warm, reflective gold gives the piece a jewel-like, unmistakably luxurious presence.

Condition & Authenticity
The vase is in pristine condition. The red glaze is glossy and flawless, and the gilding is bright and fully intact, with no rubbing or loss, which is far from always the case with gilt-decorated pieces of this age. There are no chips, cracks, or restoration.
Fully authenticated, it is signed B. Letalle and numbered 4135 in relief beneath the base, the signature of the designer Blanche Letalle for the Faiencerie de Saint-Clement, together with a small gilt mark.
Like all pieces from our collection, this item comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Maisons Rares.

Design Context
A red-and-gold piece of this impact wants to be seen. We recommend giving it a clear stage, a console, a mantel, or a shelf against a dark, neutral, or contrasting wall, where its glaze and gilding can catch the light. It stands beautifully on its own as a sculptural accent, or can be filled with a generous, loose arrangement to play on its trumpet form. It suits Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, maximalist, and bold contemporary interiors alike.

Technical Specifications
Creator / Manufacture: Blanche Letalle for the Faiencerie de Saint-Clement, France
Period: Circa 1950 (1950s)
Origin: Saint-Clement, Lorraine, France
Material: Glazed faience with gilt decoration
Dimensions: 27 cm high x 15 cm wide (10.6 x 5.9 in)
Style: Art Deco / Mid-Century Modern / French Faience
Condition: Pristine condition. Glaze flawless, gilding bright and fully intact, no chips, cracks, or restoration.
Authenticity: Signed B. Letalle and numbered 4135 under the base, with a gilt mark.
Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Maisons Rares. See less