Pair of Antique Faience Lidded Urns from Desvres, France, Circa 1880

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...

A beautiful set of five blue and white Delft vases, this faience collection was hand-painted in Holland, circa 1900. The three bulbous vases are lidded, each with a finial depicting a rampant lion with a ball in its forepaws. Beneath the lion is a mottled background (on the front side only), with a foliate and floral margent. Each vase has the same scene painted on the front of the main body: a couple walking through a field surrounded by flowers. The opposite side has a floral rinceaux above a foliate branch. Painted in a similar fashion, the two concave vases are without lids. The side opposite from the cartouche of the couple has floral margents. All five vases have canted corners on the base. Inspired by Italian majolica, the faience produced in 16th century Holland...

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

From France, this pair of three arm antique faience wall sconces are from Desvres, France. They were done by one of the Fourmaintraux family in the late 1800s. The letters, JJ and 10...

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...

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...

These elegant, antique urns were created in Luneville, France, circa 1970. The tall ceramic vases stand on square bases over a bombe body decorated with ram head handles, and embelli...

A 19th century French Desvres faience jardinière, or planter. Hand painted in typical floral design with beautiful vivid colors of blue, green, yellow and red on white ground. Footed...

A French Desvres faience Louis XV style lavabo with traditional colorful hand painted decoration. The lidded urn and large deep basin rest on a whitewashed chestnut wall mounted corner shelf...

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...

An early 19th century French faience lidded jar; probably Rouen. Painted with a heraldic crest. Delft style.

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...