19th Century French Painted Barbotine Faience Rooster Vase Attributed to Massier

$3,950

About

Bring the country French style into your kitchen with this important antique rooster sculpture. Crafted in France circa 1890, and attributed to the Massier brothers, the tall faience chicken figure is a Classic French country home accessory. The large colorful Majolica chanticleer, symbol of France, stands on a round base next to a flower vase decorated with reed and foliage motifs at the bottom. This hand painted, ceramic rooster vase is in excellent condition, and has a sharp, vibrant color palette of yellow, red, green and blue. Old repair underside not visible. Similar animal pictured in the book “Les Barbotines” by Massin page 86.
The Massier family of Vallauris is recognized for three members producing Majolica in the second half of the 19th century. In 1860, brothers Delphin (1836-1907) and Clement (1844-1917) Massier were joined by Cousin Jerome Massier (1850-1916) and began producing a style of ceramic bridging between traditional Victorian Majolica and Art Nouveau pottery. The Massiers mastered the copper oxide flambé technique for glazing, thereby introducing an intensely vibrant color palette including red, green and blue hues not previously seen with English Majolica.
Important in the Massier production were a series of large naturalistic modeled figural roosters, hens and other birds. Vases and wall pockets styled as orchids, intensely colored irises and sunflowers are among the most common Massier styles. A variety of humorous pieces bearing frogs and songbirds are popular among collectors. Most Massier Majolica bears an ink signature with both the first and last name of the producer and often includes ‘Vallauris’ along with other letters and symbols.
Measures: 23″W x 14″D x 31″H.

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