Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 22

Rare Pair of Monumental French Gros Relief Barbotine Vases by Lefront Circa 1875

About the Item

–Ceramiques impressionistes & Gres Art Nouveau. Olivier Fanica et Gerard Boue. 2005 Massin Editeur.- Théodore Lefront (1835-1893) was a leading maker of decorative ceramic pieces during the second half of the 19th century. He started his faience and porcelain workshop in Fontainebleau, France in the year 1860. By 1872, he had expanded his operations and moved to 232 Grande-Rue where he used a six-horse steam engine and employed around 40 workers. He enjoyed great success and was known for producing barbotines consisting of delicate “gros relief” flowers applied to discreetly tinted backgrounds. He would also go on to create vases, cache-pots, and jadinieres without relief and finely painted scenes. In 1874, Lefront showed his wares at The “Union Centrale des Beaux-Arts les productions de l’ateliers: Faiences d’art et porcelaines, vases, jardinieres, plats, cache-pots, cornets”. In the following year, according to “L’Annuaire Didot-Bottin”, Lefront received 10 gold medals in various exhibitions throughout France. In addition, he was awarded a silver medal at the Agricultural Exhibitions of Melun in 1866 and in 1872, an honorable mention at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris in 1869; a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition of 1878, and finally, a silver medal in Nice, in 1884. In an article written on October 25, 1878, describing the Fontainbleau objects at the Universal Exhibition, E-M de Lyden wrote “all these products are noted by the fineness of the clay, the purity of the design, and the variety of colors”. Gros-Relief barbotine vases are usually anywhere from 8 inches to 20 inches in height, with some larger examples measuring up around 24 inches. The vases shown here measure an astounding 41.25 inches high. Their imposing size and rich decoration indicate that they were in all likelihood a special commission or rather created specifically for one of the aforementioned exhibitions in which Lefront could demonstrate his artistic vision, creativity, and technical ability.
  • Creator:
    Théodore Lefront 1 (Workshop/Studio)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 41.25 in (104.78 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 18 in (45.72 cm)
  • Sold As:
    Set of 2
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Circa 1875
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Very good antique condition. Fleabites and minor losses to the relief flowers. Light buildup, most noticeably to the bases and interiors. Some very light paint losses to the rim of the openings.
  • Seller Location:
    Dallas, TX
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 325-301stDibs: LU906344218302

More From This Seller

View All
Pair of Antique French Bronze Mounted Gros Relief Barbotine Vases, Circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… Dating to circa 1880, these wonderful French barbotine vases have bronze mounts, inspired by the visual stylings of Japonisme. The hand-painted vases ...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Japonisme Vases

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Antique Painted French Barbotine Vase by Theodore Lefront, circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
Produced by the French studio of Theodore Lefront, circa 1880, this antique barbotine vase features an oblong main body with brass mounts. The vase h...
Category

Antique 1880s French Vases

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Pair of French Louis XVI Style Gilt Vases with Bisque Swags, circa 1870
Located in Dallas, TX
With its Neoclassical elements, this pair of French porcelain vases is in the style of Louis XVI. Crafted circa 1870, the stunning details of the swags are sharpened by the rich colo...
Category

Antique 1870s French Louis XVI Vases

Materials

Stone, Marble

Antique French Blue Ground Barbotine Cachepot in the Style of Montigny, C. 1900
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… A beautiful French cachepot, hand-painted circa 1900 with a sky blue ground beneath multiple flowering plants. Reminiscent of barbotines from the Mont...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Pair of circa 1820 Carved Walnut Spill Vases from England
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved in England, circa 1820, these lovely spill vases were fashioned out of burl walnut. The vases have developed a tremendous, darkened patina, particularly along the carved ...
Category

Antique 1820s English Vases

Materials

Wood, Walnut, Burl

Pair of 19th Century French Cast Iron Vases by Alfred Corneau de Charleville
By Alfred Corneau
Located in Dallas, TX
More information coming soon… This pair of cast iron French vases, which have a wonderful sky blue finish, were produced by the Corneau Foundry, led by one of its founders, Alfred C...
Category

Antique 19th Century French Vases

Materials

Metal, Iron

You May Also Like

19th Century French Hand Painted Ceramic Barbotine Vase Stamped T. LeFront
By Théodore Lefront 1
Located in Dallas, TX
This large hand painted antique vase was created in France circa 1865, made of Majolica, the colorful vase depicts a hand painted scene with ...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Vases

Materials

Porcelain, Ceramic, Majolica

Pair of French Faience Vases, Luneville, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
Modelled in high relief with eagle attacking a dragon emerging from waves. Marked KGL.
Category

Antique 1870s French Vases

Materials

Faience

Pair Of Art Nouveau Vases, Barbotine, France
By Creil et Montereau
Located in Lisbon, PT
Two vases in olive green ceramic decorated with flowers in the Barbotine style faiançe with Interior in bluish green ceramic. 'B FRANCE 50_2 ' marks on the base of Hippolyte Boulenge...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Rare Minton Majolica Posy Vase, circa 1875
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Minton Majolica Posy small vase modelled as three upright yellow bamboo canes all supported on an earthy ground.
Category

Antique 1870s English Victorian Vases

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

19thC. Pair of Highly Decorated Gilt Vases French Circa 1875.
Located in Incline Village, NV
19th century pair of crystal rectangular, tapered to the top, highly gilt adorned "raised" cast and repousse and applied; three dimensional decoration of French origin, consistent wi...
Category

Antique 1870s French Belle Époque Vases

Materials

Crystal, Ormolu

Pair of Victorian Staffordshire Spill Vases, circa 1875
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Victorian Staffordshire Spill vases, circa 1875.
Category

Antique 1870s English Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Recently Viewed

View All