Shell-Shaped Vase in Polychrome Glazed Ceramic with Stylized Floral Decor by D'Argyl for E. Val & Cie, Paris, 1928-1935

Details

Description

Glazed ceramic, decorated using a high-fire technique with flat areas outlined in black, following a principle similar to cloisonné: stylized … Read more Glazed ceramic, decorated using a high-fire technique with flat areas outlined in black, following a principle similar to cloisonné: stylized flowers with rounded petals in brown, ochre, and bright yellow against a background of Prussian blue and olive green foliage, resting on a central area speckled with yellow and blue dots on an ivory ground, framed at the base by a frieze of black flames.

The form itself, an ogival body with a so-called "shell" profile, constricted at the junction with a circular base of matte black ceramic, fully embodies the formal vocabulary of Art Deco, where the geometric silhouette counterbalances the chromatic exuberance of the decoration.

The D'Argyl brand was registered in 1928 by E. Val & Cie, a company located at 218–220 Faubourg Saint-Martin in Paris, successor to the Effler company, which specialized in the assembly of decorative objects.

Under this brand, the company distributed a line of glass, ceramic, and porcelain objects sourced from a variety of suppliers until around 1940. See less