19th Century French Montigny Hand Painted Barbotine Faience Bird Vase

$1,050

About

This beautifully decorated antique barbotine vase was crafted in Montigny-sur-Loing, France, circa 1880. Made of glazed earthenware, the tall ceramic vessel features a graceful baluster silhouette with rounded shoulders, a slender neck, and a gently flared rim. Its naturalistic hand-painted decoration reflects the Impressionist influence that distinguished the celebrated pottery workshops of Montigny-sur-Loing during the late 19th century.

The front depicts a large dark-feathered bird, possibly a raven or crow, standing amid lush green foliage in a tranquil woodland setting. Rendered in deep shades of brown, black, and green, the bird contrasts beautifully with the softly glazed beige and pale yellow background. The reverse features a peaceful countryside landscape with leafy trees, grassy vegetation, and distant scenery. Loose, expressive brushstrokes and subtle variations in color create an atmospheric quality reminiscent of French Impressionist painting.

Montigny-sur-Loing became an important center for artistic ceramics during the late 19th century. Beginning in the 1870s, local manufacturers, including Eugène Schopin, collaborated with painters inspired by the surrounding Fontainebleau landscape. Their distinctive barbotine pottery, often described as céramique impressionniste, combined traditional ceramic craftsmanship with painterly decoration depicting birds, flowers, and natural landscapes.

The antique faience vase is in excellent condition commensurate with age and use, retaining its rich, glossy glaze and beautifully patinated colors. A wonderful example of French decorative pottery, this elegant pièce de forme would make an attractive addition to a mantel, console, or dining room buffet, displayed alone or filled with dried flowers.

Dimensions: 7″ Diameter x 16.5″H

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