19th Century French Clairefontaine Hand-Painted Majolica Fish Pitcher

$425

About

An expressive fish form and vivid glaze give this antique majolica pitcher its playful sculptural presence. Crafted in France circa 1890 by the Clairefontaine faience manufactory, the barbotine vessel depicts a fish standing upright upon a naturalistic base. Its dramatically opened mouth forms the pouring spout, while the curved tail rises along the back to create an integrated handle.

The ceramic pitcher is finely modeled with overlapping scales, prominent fins and an animated face with rounded eyes. Hand-painted glazes in rich shades of emerald green, cream and dark brown accentuate the textured surface and anatomical details. The softly modeled belly provides a pleasing contrast to the deeply colored scales, while subtle variations in the glaze contribute to its appealing antique character.

Founded in 1804 by Jean-François Estienne, the Clairefontaine pottery was located in France’s Haute-Saône region. Jean-Baptiste Rigal acquired the manufactory in 1833, and it remained an important producer of decorative and utilitarian ceramics until closing in 1938. This distinctive fish model is illustrated on page 51 of Maryse Bottero’s reference book Pichets en Barbotine.

The pitcher is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use and retains rich, beautifully patinated colors.

Dimensions: 6″ W x 4″ D x 11.5″ H.

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