Elegant small vase in flamed stoneware from Lunéville, mounted on a hallmarked silver base, late 19th century. XIXth century, circa 1890-1900. 

The Lunéville-Saint-Clément factory was founded in XVIIIth century. Active until 2022, it remains one of the most prestigious earthenware houses in Lorraine. 

At the end of XIXth century, under the impetus of the Nancy School, it diversified its production and also took the turn of Art Nouveau. Under the influence of Japonism, stoneware became a medium of choice to reinvent celadons and oxbloods which fascinated visual artists at the time. Among them, Dalpayrat, Chaplet and Deck were passionate about flamed tiles of Chinese origin. 

Lunéville under the Keller-Guérin family, began this practice of stoneware in 1892, thanks to Maurice Ravinel, then director of the art studio. Under his presidency, artists such as Ernest Bussière (1863-1913) fully exploited the creative research of this aesthetic. This is evidenced by the words of Eugène Corbin in "Art et Industrie" in 1909: 

"We cannot pass over in silence the beautiful products of the Keller Guérin factory in Lunéville, whose management was always attentive to new products. The constant participation of this establishment in the events of the Nancy School demonstrates the communion of ideas which unites this very important factory with the group which interests us."

Decorations of this type, also called "flambés", are the result of an extremely complex technical process because it is impossible to truly control the exact rendering of the piece and the vitreous compositions once removed from the oven. These dripping effects are in fact obtained by the reaction of the fire on the oxides. The result is therefore pieces with a unique character. In addition to the polychromy in warm tones, orange-red tending towards yellow, which we find here, there is a real play of light in the reflections depending on the metallic effects present on the surface of the vase. 

Unlike other works, it is interesting to note the work of silver which here forms a base and perfectly completes the vase. The latter, through the use of metal, weaves a relevant link with the material effects resulting from the work of stoneware mentioned above. It also brings the full dynamic of Art Nouveau to the piece, with its decorative vegetal lexicon, deploying fine stylized leaves on the circular mount. 

Our vase therefore combines, on its own, the revival of French ceramics at the dawn of the 20th century with this search for absolute aesthetics which draws its sources from the observation of nature, so dear to Art Nouveau. 

Dimensions: 

• Height: 8cm 
• Diameter of the base: 6 cm 
• Neck diameter: 2.6 cm