Pair of 19th Century French Painted Enameled Vases Signed Delphin Massier

$1,900

About

Decorate a mantel or a console with this elegant pair of antique enamel vases. Created in southern France, the colorful vessel have a long neck on a circular base; each vase features a typical coastal scene on the French Riviera with sailboats at large and rocky cliffs in the foreground. Each vase is signed by the artist Narbon d’Honore. The vases are in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, and adorn soft colors in the beige palette. The vessels are further signed underfoot “Delphin Massier, Vallauris” for additional authentication. The Massier family of Vallauris is recognized for three members producing Majolica in the second half of the 19th century. In 1860, brothers Delphin (1836-1907) and Clement (1844-1917) Massier were joined by cousin Jerome Massier (1850-1916) and began producing a style of ceramic bridging between traditional Victorian Majolica and Art Nouveau pottery. The Massier’s mastered the copper oxide flambé technique for glazing, thereby introducing an intensely vibrant color palette including red, green and blue hues not previously seen with English Majolica. Important in the Massier production were a series of large naturalistic modeled figural roosters, hens and other birds. Vases and wall pockets styled as orchids, intensely colored irises and sunflowers are among the most common Massier styles. A variety of humorous pieces bearing frogs and songbirds are popular among collectors. Most Massier Majolica bears an ink signature with both the first and last name of the producer and often includes ‘Vallauris’ along with other letters and symbols. 6.25″ Diameter 15″ H

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