"Théodore Deck (1823 - 1891) Pair Of Miniature Earthenware Vases, Circa 1870"
Théodore Deck (1823-1891) A deep green enameled faience miniature pair of vases molded in the Chinese Archaistic Taste.
Coves in the shape of elephant heads.
With openworked ormolu mounts to the base and the rim
Uppercased TH.D impressed mark.under the base
Bibliography : "Théodore Deck ou l'éclat des émaux 1823 - 1891", Musées de Marseille
Similar model illustrated page 68 under number 48.
Renowned ceramist, Théodore Deck, born in Guebwiller in 1823, apprenticed in Strasbourg in the Hügelin pottery. After an initiatory stay throughout Europe, he arrived in Paris in 1847. It was in 1861 that he made his first public appearance at the Salon des Arts et de l'Industrie in Paris, where he won a silver medal for his exhibited works. Recognized since that time, Deck is deeply influenced by the artistic trend of the moment: Orientalism. He then uses with great precision the Oriental naturalistic motifs. Emile Reiber (1826-1893), who worked at Christofle as chief draughtsman, also made sketches for Deck. His fame won by long works is imposed at the Universal Exhibitions in which he participates: in Vienna in 1873, where he leaves all his rivals behind; in Paris in 1878, where he obtains the grand prize for portraits with a gold background. The "Gazette des Beaux-Arts" (Paris, 1874, Vol. XXXV, p. 310) reported that "Mr Deck, the master of the masters, is the purest glory of French ceramics." His life is a succession of achievements whose goal is to improve the technology of earthenware. Thus it improves the rendering of colors, among which is a novelty, a turquoise blue commonly called «Deck Blue». Theodore Deck is talented and knows it. However he does not keep his art to himself, he shares it with other artists and launches young talents without fortune. It illustrates the revival of ceramic art in the second half of the 19th century. All his methods are made public and disseminated in a book on earthenware. His recognized genius, promoted to the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honor, he was appointed in 1887 administrator of the manufacture of Sèvres.
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