Ref. : 3492-10-en

 

 

"Chinese" Jardinière-
Theodore Deck (1823-1891).

 

Origine

France, circa 1880

H : 10,5 cm / 4.1 in.
W : 19 cm / 7.5 in.

 

 

Description

N° 51
Jardiniere in glazed earthenware. Green with Imprial Dragons and chimeras masks ornaments in Chinese style. Gilded bronze mounted.

Signature

Signature : « TH · DECK · » engraved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

 

Notes

This Jardiniere is very inspired  to Chinese ceramic originals of the 1700s both in shape and colour. These, in turn, were taken from earlier Chinese bronze forms. The vase was made by the French ceramicist Théodore Deck who established a pottery in Paris producing wares inspired by Middle-Eastern and Far-eastern ceramics. Such wares catered to the growing taste in Europe for 'exotic' interiors.

Many of his creations are in museums and major collections such as in France, the Musée d'Orsay with 11 pieces  (Inv. OAO 993... ) and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Paris with 20 pieces (Inv. 5820…), in the UK, the Victoria & Albert Museum with 15 pieces (Inv. 1784-1869...), in the USA, the Metropolitan Museum of New York with 5 pieces (Inv. 2013.239.15...), the Cleveland Museum of Art (Inv. 1986.22)…

More informations...

Biography

Joseph-Theodore Deck (1823-1891) French ceramicist, French school.


Joseph-Theodore Deck (1823-1891), born in Guebwiller, Alsace, was apprenticed to a traditional stove-making firm in Strasbourg, learning his trade there and then in other centres in Germany and Austria. He moved to Paris in about 1851 as overseer for the Dumas stove and tile firm, and in 1855 opened his own studio and, later his own retail shop, with his brother Xavier. Deck specialised in researching glazes and colours inspired by the ceramics of the Middle and Far East and he made wares in many of these styles including Persian and Chinese as well as imitations of cloisonné enamels and 'Rhodian-ware'.

Under the direction of his brother Xavier, the Deck Manufacture will last until 1905 but it should be noted that after the departure of Theodore, to lead the Manufacture de Sèvres, the signature (stamp) of pieces changed and became a stamp representing a hollow profile of Theodore.


He successfully participated as an exhibitor and as a jury member in many international exhibitions such as:

- Exposition universelle de 1855 à Paris,

- Exposition universelle de 1862 à Londres: Vase de l'Alhambra,

- Exposition des arts industriels de 1864,

- Exposition universelle de 1873 à Vienne : Jardinière,

- Exposition de l'union centrale des Arts décoratifs de 1874 : émaux transparents et cloisonnés,

- Exposition universelle de 1878 à Paris : pièces à fond d'or sous couverte,

- Exposition universelle de 1889 à Paris...


 

Bibliography

Revues :
De Liesville, (A.-R.), « Les Industries d'Art au Champ de Mars, IV-1 La céramique moderne », dans L'Art Moderne à l'Exposition de 1878, Publication de la Gazette des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1879, pp. 411 à 414, 420, fig. p. 426 et 427.

Sales Catalogue :
Sothebys, Collection Fabius Frères, vente n° PF 1124, Paris, octobre 2011, lots n°  57 à 63, 65 à 68, 316 à 318 et lots n° 321 à 328.

Exhibition Catalogues : 
L’Art en France sous le Second Empire, Paris/Grand Palais, 1979, pp. 229-234, fig. 120 à 123.
H. Blairman & Sons Ltd, Théodore Deck Céramiste, published on the occasion of the exhibition, London, 22 March-5 april 2000, fig. 65 et 66.
The Illustrated Catalogue of the International Exhibition 1871, published with the Art Journal, London, 1871, fig. p. 59.
Der Traum vom Glück : Die Kunst des Historismus in Europa / Ausstellung im Künstlerhaus und der Akademie der Bildenden Künste in Wien, 1996-1997, pp. 517, 518, 519, 528, 602, 604, 606, notice n° 21.127.
Von Lützow, (C.), Kunst und Kunstgewerbe auf der Wiener Weltausstellung, 1873, Leipzig, 1875, ill. p. 143.

Books :
Plinval de Guillebon, (R.), Faïence et Porcelaine de Paris, XVIIIe-XIXe siècle, Dijon, 1995, pp. 192, 240 à 245, fig. 184.