Antique Zoomorphic Amber Glass Bowl With Three Fish and Enamel Decoration, Attributed to Auguste Jean, Moser Style C. 1880

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Description

An exceptional late 19th-century zoomorphic art glass bowl, attributed to French glassmaker Auguste Jean (1829–1896), combining imaginative sculptural glasswork with … Read more An exceptional late 19th-century zoomorphic art glass bowl, attributed to French glassmaker Auguste Jean (1829–1896), combining imaginative sculptural glasswork with delicate hand-painted decoration.

Fashioned from luminous light yellow blown glass, the rounded bowl is supported by three wonderfully eccentric fish with prominent red eyes, elaborate fins, and sculptural glass feet. Their animated forms create a playful contrast with the delicate enamel-painted fruiting branches, leaves, and botanical details decorating the vessel.

Auguste Jean was a French ceramicist and glassmaker whose experimental work helped anticipate the Art Nouveau movement. Working during the latter half of the 19th century, he explored unconventional forms, elaborate glass applications, and innovative decorative techniques. His art glass is particularly admired for its imaginative, sometimes fantastical treatment of natural forms.

Attribution: The French auction house Millon attributed this piece to Auguste Jean while also noting stylistic similarities to glass produced by the renowned Moser glassworks of Bohemia. Founded in 1857, Moser was celebrated for richly colored glass and elaborate enamel decoration. The attribution to Jean reflects the vessel's unusual sculptural construction and naturalistic ornament, while the comparison to Moser relates particularly to its decorative treatment. For comparison, the Musée d'Orsay in Paris holds Jean's Tripod Vase (1880–1890), which likewise incorporates three sculptural supports, applied glass ornament, and painted enamel decoration. The maker of this example remains unconfirmed.

This remarkable vessel embodies the late 19th-century fascination with naturalism, fantasy, and technical experimentation in decorative glass.

A distinctive collector's piece that brings character and sophistication to a thoughtfully designed interior.

Origin: France, attributed
Period: Late 19th century, circa 1870–1890
Materials: Blown and applied colored glass, enamel decoration
Dimensions: Approximately 4.3" H × 5.5" W (11 × 14 cm)
Condition: Excellent antique condition. No chips, cracks, or scratches visible to the unaided eye.
Provenance: Millon, Paris, Intérieurs & Caractères, 2026 See less