19th Century French Painted Ceramic Barbotine Floral Jardinière Planter

$875

About

This charming antique French jardinière, crafted circa 1880, exemplifies the exuberant decorative style of late 19th century barbotine earthenware, also commonly referred to as French majolica. Designed as a decorative planter, the piece is modeled in a richly sculptural oval form, raised on four leafy feet and fitted with an integrated scrolling stem handle. The exterior is lavishly adorned with hand-applied flowers and foliage in high relief, including blooming roses and open blossoms rendered with remarkable naturalism. The composition is further enhanced by a rich blue ground and vibrant polychrome glazes in tones of green, pink, and red, all finished with a glossy surface that accentuates the modeling. The interior is glazed in a soft ivory tone, suitable for use as a cachepot or decorative planter, while the pierced rim adds lightness and visual interest. Executed using the barbotine technique, with thick slips applied by hand to build up the floral decoration, this antique jardinière reflects the period’s fascination with botanical realism and richly textured surfaces. The underside shows an incised production number, consistent with French factory output of the late 19th century. The piece is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, with no apparent losses to the applied decoration and only minor glaze variations typical of kiln firing. Dimensions: 13.25″W x 9″D x 6.75″H

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