Pair Antique French Desvres Faience Vases, Fourmaintraux-courquin, Blue & White C.1880

A fine and highly decorative pair of antique French faience vases made by Fourmaintraux-Courquin at Desvres, circa 1880.

The vases form an original matched pair, with identical moulded baluster bodies, four-lobed rims and bases, prominent shell-shaped relief panels and richly hand-painted cobalt-blue decoration. Each vase is painted with a complementary pastoral equestrian scene, one rider moving to the right and the other to the left. 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 study the accompanying photographs carefully as they form an integral part of this description. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them. The item will be shipped with full tracking and insurance. Shipping costs include handling, packaging and postage.