19th Century French Saint-Clément Majolica Duck Pitcher

$595

About

Whimsical in form and richly colored, this antique barbotine pitcher depicts a young duck emerging from a broken eggshell. Crafted in France circa 1890 by the Saint-Clément pottery, the figural vessel is known as Le Canard Sortant de l’Œuf—“The Duck Emerging from the Egg.”

The duck’s open beak forms the pouring spout, while an opening fitted with a cork stopper allows the vessel to be filled. Its body is hand-painted in softly shaded tones of blue, green, yellow and brown, characteristic of Saint-Clément majolica. Around the eggshell, a charming scene portrays a small duckling pursuing a butterfly among grasses and foliage. The underside bears the impressed mark “Saint Clement France.”

Founded in 1758 by Jacques Chambrette as an extension of the Lunéville pottery, Saint-Clément became especially celebrated for its imaginative majolica production during the second half of the 19th century. Its wares included figural pitchers, animal-form vessels and colorful tableware decorated with naturalistic motifs. This model is illustrated on page 41 of Maryse Bottero’s reference book Les Barbotines.

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

Dimensions: 12.25″ H.

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