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

$32,000per set
£23,950.29per set
€27,732.94per set
CA$44,474.77per set
A$50,093.62per set
CHF 25,941.68per set
MX$608,367.17per set
NOK 329,519.40per set
SEK 312,576.96per set
DKK 206,925.85per set
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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. 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

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