Offered by Impossible Gallery - Diane Chatelet
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Decorative art from 18th to 20th century
Brand printed under the base "L.M. & Cie" corresponding to the manufacture Lebeuf, Milliet & Compagnie, used between 1840 and 1876.
One of the two plant pots retains an old label bearing the words: «ADMITTED TO THE EXHIBITION» "DEPUTY COMMISSIONER" "near the Imperial Commission"
Dimensions: H 21 x D 18 cm
Pair of cylindrical flower pots resting on a slightly flared circular base.
The decor is set against a particularly strong turquoise background, characteristic of the most ambitious productions of the manufactory in the mid-19th century. Each room is decorated with circular reserves depicting lake landscapes animated by trees and buildings, executed in purple camaieu.
These reserves are framed by a rich decoration of foliage, scrolls and foliage inspired by rocaille, enhanced with gold. The frame is highlighted with a polychrome geometric frieze in red brown, pale blue and ivory tones.
The whole demonstrates a particularly successful technical mastery combining printing, painting and manual enrichment.
Analysis and Commentary:
This pair belongs to the period of full development of the manufacture of Creil and Montereau under the direction of Lebeuf, Milliet & Cie, when the establishment is among the main actors of the French industrial ceramics. In the middle of the 19th century, French manufacturers sought to demonstrate their technical and artistic excellence at major national and international exhibitions. The most elaborate productions then combine modern industrial processes and decorative enrichments intended to compete with the achievements of the most prestigious European factories.
The decor of this pair perfectly illustrates this ambition. The contrast between the bright turquoise background, the landscapes treated in purple camaieu and the golden highlights contributes to an aesthetic of presentation particularly appreciated under the Second Empire. These compositions were intended to highlight the technical capabilities of the manufacture as well as to seduce a bourgeois clientele sensitive to decorative novelties. The main interest of this set, however, lies in the preservation of an old label for admission to an official exhibition. The printed references correspond to the administrative terminology used during the organization of the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855: «Admitted to the Exhibition» "Deputy Commissioner" "near the Imperial Commission"
The archives of this event also attest to the presence of the manufacture Lebeuf, Milliet & Cie among the exhibitors officially admitted under number 5453. The factory obtained a first class medal, distinction granted to the most noticed establishments of their category.
In the current state of research, it is advisable to remain cautious about the assertion that this specific pair was exposed to the public in 1855. On the other hand, the presence of this original label certainly establishes a direct link with the admission process to official exhibitions of the Second Empire and constitutes a particularly rare documentary testimony for the productions of Creil and Montereau.
The combination of several elements that are rarely kept together (the original pair, the marks of manufacture and the admission label) confers on this ensemble a patrimonial interest which goes far beyond its purely decorative quality. As such, these cache-pots are a significant testimony to the participation of the French ceramic industry in major international events of the 19th century and the role played by Creil and Montereau in the development of decorative arts under the reign of Napoleon III.
Bibliography:
Nicole Verge-Franceschi, Creil-Montereau, histoire d'une manufacture française, Éditions Monelle Hayot, Paris, 1995;
Report of the International Mixed Jury, Paris Universal Exhibition in 1855, Imperial Printing House, Paris, 1856;
Official catalog of exhibitors at the 1855 Universal Exhibition in Paris, exhibitor No. 5453: Lebeuf, Milliet & Cie;
Archives and historical documentation relating to the manufacture of Creil and Montereau under the name Lebeuf, Milliet & Cie (1840-1876).
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