Art Nouveau Baluster Vase in Nevers Earthenware from Marest Frères, 1890s

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Baluster vase in nevers earthenware, signed marest frères, decorated in blue and manganese with fantastical birds

large two-handled vase in … Read more Baluster vase in nevers earthenware, signed marest frères, decorated in blue and manganese with fantastical birds

large two-handled vase in nevers earthenware, hand-painted in shades of blue enhanced with manganese (brownish-purple), signed marest frères under the base. A distinctive decorative piece, typical of the "style" production of the late 19th century.

the flared neck is decorated with a finely painted lakeside landscape with chinoiserie influences: a pagoda on a promontory, mountains in the distance, water with water lilies and reeds, and a large tree with stylized foliage. The rim is highlighted with a cobalt blue band. A frieze (brown streaks, blue lozenge pattern) separates the neck from the body.

on the other side, the neck is adorned with an elegant young woman in a kimono, standing by the water's edge and holding a large, open fan. Her garment is painted in blue and manganese, with a wide obi belt and a skirt delicately scattered with small flowers. Around her, butterflies flutter in a blue-washed sky, while reeds and riverside flowers lie at her feet.

this design reflects the taste for japonisme, very fashionable at the end of the 19th century. It provides a lovely counterpoint to the opposite side, with its chinoiserie lakeside landscape, and gives the piece two distinct moods on a single vase. A flowering branch, also painted blue, can be glimpsed on the side of the neck.

the two handles form the piece's visual signature: fantastical birds with outstretched wings, avian heads, and chimera bodies with curled tails, sculpted in relief and painted in light blue, blue, and manganese. The piece is very expressive and looks good from both the front and the side.

height 31.5 cm, diameter at the neck 16.8 cm, width with handles approximately 23 cm
some enamel loss on the spouts. A firing crack is also present. This piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less