ROBJ Barware

He is white glaze with gold gilt painted detailing. He has a red nose and a long brown mustache and beard. he wears a tall hat that also fuctions as the top of the decanter and his arms are straigt by his side with stylized art deco hands. He is signed on the bottom ROBJ Paris Made in France. Please mention the history of ROBJ, the importance and collectability of these decanters, the museum collections they are in and the history of this piece in particular.This 1920s French Art Deco porcelain decanter is a sophisticated example of the whimsical "anthropomorphic" bottles popularized by ROBJ Paris. Standing as a stylized Russian figure, the piece features a pristine white glaze punctuated by luxurious gold gilt detailing. His expressive face is defined by a bold red nose and a long, meticulously painted brown mustache and beard. The figure is capped with a tall, architectural hat that doubles as the decanter's functional stopper, while his arms rest straight at his sides, ending in the characteristic, highly stylized hands that define the Art Deco aesthetic of the period. The base bears the authentic stamp "ROBJ Paris Made in France". Founded in 1908 by Jean Born (using an anagram of his name), ROBJ was not a manufacturer but an éditeur, commissioning elite porcelain factories like Manufacture de Sèvres, Villeroy & Boch, and several esteemed Limoges workshops to produce its designs. After Born’s death in 1922, Lucien Willemetz took over, steering the house toward the iconic "art trinkets" that won a bronze medal at the landmark 1925 Exposition of Decorative Arts. These liquor decanters, introduced in 1928, became ROBJ's most famous and sought-after line, celebrated for their playful "Jazz Age" humor and modernist silhouettes. Today, ROBJ decanters...

This exceptional 1920s French Art Deco porcelain decanter, modeled as a kilted Scotsman with bagpipes, is a premier example of the whimsical "bibelots" popularized by the renowned Parisian firm Robj. Established in 1908 by Jean Born, Robj became a beacon of Art Deco style under the management of Lucien Willmetz following Born's death in 1922. Robj functioned as an éditeur, commissioning elite porcelain manufacturers, including Manufacture de Sèvres, Villeroy & Boch, and various Limoges houses, to produce their avant-garde designs. This specific "Kilted Scotsman with bagpipes" figure was part of a hugely successful series of anthropomorphic liqueur bottles launched in 1928, designed to bring a sense of humor and "art de vivre" to the modern home bar. The decanter features a striking architectural form, entirely glazed in a pristine white with elegant gold gilt accents that emphasize its geometric Art Deco lines. The Scotsman is depicted playing the bagpipes, which are adorned with large, meticulously painted gilt tassels. He is enveloped in a sweeping cape, cleverly designed to expose only a single knee, his kilt, and a portion of his high sock, a detail that showcases the characteristic Robj blend of playful caricature and refined craftsmanship. His hat serves as the functional lid to the vessel, and remarkably, the original cork remains intact. Signed "ROBJ Paris Made In France" on the base, the piece is in excellent vintage condition with no chips or cracks, showing only minor expected wear to the gilt on high-contact areas.Today, Robj decanters...