Ritas Bazaar has dated these Antique French Faience Vases to the 19th Century.
Displayed together, the opposing compositions form a harmonious and visually balanced pair.
The reverse sides are decorated with abundant flowers, foliage and vigorous rococo scrollwork. The freehand painting includes finely rendered trees and landscapes, subtle variations in cobalt tone, carefully shaded shell motifs and confident flowing brushwork. The combination of sculptural relief and extensive hand painting demonstrates the quality of Fourmaintraux-Courquin's historicist production at Desvres.
The bases bear freely hand-painted monograms, most probably a connected VR read slightly differently by hand on each vase. Such variation is consistent with Fourmaintraux-Courquin workshop production, where decorators' initials were applied freehand rather than with a standardised printed stamp. The identical dimensions, matching moulded bodies, corresponding relief decoration and complementary equestrian scenes confirm that the vases were conceived and produced as a pair.
Dimensions of each vase: height 20.2 cm; width 13 cm. Weight: 493 g and 524 g. Condition: one vase has a small area of glaze loss on the reverse, visible as a small yellow spot, together with several fine age-related lines confined to the glaze; examination under UV light confirms that they do not extend through the ceramic body. The other vase has traces of old overpainting around the neck. Otherwise both vases are in exceptionally good antique condition, with the moulded rims, relief decoration, bodies and painted surfaces all well preserved. Please carefully regard all photos as they make an integral part of the listing, and reach out if there are any questions.
Ritas Bazaar has dated these Antique French Faience Vases to the 19th Century.
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A Fine and Highly Decorative Pair of Antique French Faience Vases Made by Fourmaintraux-courquin at Desvres, Circa 1880.
