Antique French Faience Jardiniere by Gien

This lovely French “service fumeur en faïence”, or earthenware smoking service, has five pieces: a tray, and four pots of various sizes. Although every smoking set is unique, we presume theses pots are a tobacco pot to store the dried leaves, an ash receptacle, a pot for holding papers to hand roll cigarettes and/or cigars and a pot for keeping matches. Our set was produced in Nevers, France in the 19th century by Montagnon, the oldest earthenware factory in France. Originally called manufacture du Bout du monde (“End of the World factory”), the factory was founded in 1648. By 1875, the factory had fallen on hard times and was bought by Antoine Montagnon. Within the five years, it was the only faïencerie left in Nevers. Montagnon was successful for over a century but eventually ceased operations in 2015. The production date of our smoking service set is from the late 1800s. Glazed earthenware was introduced from Italy to Nevers in the mid-16th century. The town already had existing porcelain factories and the area was flush with clay deposits that could be used in pottery. This allowed the influx of Italian potters in Nevers to begin producing Faience pieces. For the next 300 years, Nevers was the center for French Faience manufacturing. This smoking set has been decorated with painted birds, rinceaux of flowers and ornamental motifs. The blue background color is called Persian blue, and was extensively used as a ground color on Nevers Faience...

A beautiful pair of hand-painted cobalt blue and white candle holders, these faience lions date to circa 1890. Based on production marks l...

In the style of 17th and 18th century Delftware, this pair of large polychrome faience wall plaques are from Holland, a region of the Netherlands. Hand-painted faience from Holland, such as this pair from the 1800’s, were typically painted in the traditional cobalt blue and white, however our plaques have vibrant colors that enhance two distinct scenes. Both plaques feature a roughly ovate shape molding and sinuous cutouts, typically seen in Dutch faience after the 17th century. These contoured edges have been painted with a nondescript motif consisting of quick brush strokes using blue paint. The plaque on the left in our main photo depicts Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. Most of the followers are clad in blue, green, or gold robes...

At over two feet in diameter, this stunning majolica platter or charger, is particularly large. The painted scene painted was taken from a ceiling fresco known as the Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne...

This stunning lidded urn might have once been found in a 19th century Italian apothecary. The front of the shaped urn body has the hand-painted phrase “C. Violaru”, which is the heavily abbreviated form of the Latin word for violet (violaceum). Up until the mid-1700’s, apothecaries would make syrups from violets and use it to treat kidney ailments. Above the Latin wording is a whimsical musical scene with a man blowing a horn leading a couple who is holding hands over rocky terrain lined with shrubbery. A large house and trees can be seen behind the trio with a pair of mountains in the distance. On the opposite side of the urn is a floral display with a bird perched on a rock. Beneath the bird is a geometric design, possibly a stylized sun with radiating beams of light. Both scenes are segmented by a pair of thin quarter round moldings that encircle the entire vase. Other hand-painted motifs include floral and foliate margents, geometric patterns, and Vitruvian waves that are infilled with horizontal fluting. The sides of the urn have a fish-scale background beneath two mustachioed mascarons. Both men have been styled in grotesque fashion, with a pair of spiraled horns emanating from their heads. In between the horns is a looping handle that is affixed to the body in similar tight spirals. The domed lid has three scrolled arms that merge in a geometric finial. The base color of the urn is white, with illustrations in a monochromatic cobalt oxide blue, reminiscent of Delft blue pottery...

From Italy, this imposing antique hand-painted Majolica vase with handles is nearly 39 inches high. It is mainly a figural vase in style, ha...

A lovely, highly-detailed French faience soup tureen, with handles, feet and nicely-sculpted vegetable decorated cover (18th century). The top cover has a radish, carrot and scallion. The painted decoration on the sides includes a shield with fleur-de-lis. The piece is marked underneath, "VP 1777" (mark for Veuve Perrin...

A lovely antique petite French faience hand painted jardiniere / cachepot / planter from Rouen, France, circa 1900. Maker's mark on reverse. It would be gorgeous added to a collectio...

A French Henriot Quimper faience oval jardiniere, or planter, with large handles. Hand-painted decoration, one side depicting a man and woman in...

A fine pair of antique French faience jardinieres or cachepots. By Aprey. Each with two painted scenes on either side. One has a man gardening and a woman carrying a breadbask...

Impressive, large hand painted French faience jardinière with jesters' heads as handles. Each side feature a different painted scene of putti playing in the woods inset into a backgr...

Charming hanging plate from Gien with cobalt blue background for hand painted grotesque decorations inspired by fifteenth-century Italy. The motifs in yellow, white and brown highlig...