1920s Paul Milet Sèvres French Art Deco Polychrome Floral Porcelain Vase

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This magnificent French porcelain vase, attributed to Paul Milet of Sèvres, France, is an exuberant example of early 20th-century decorative … Read more This magnificent French porcelain vase, attributed to Paul Milet of Sèvres, France, is an exuberant example of early 20th-century decorative ceramics, distinguished by its brilliantly colored floral decoration, bold ornamental patterns, and striking combination of European craftsmanship and Asian-inspired design.

Dating to approximately 1910–1930, the vase features a generously proportioned baluster-shaped body with broad, rounded shoulders, a gracefully tapered base, and a short, flared neck with an undulating scalloped rim. Its entire exterior is richly decorated with an elaborate profusion of oversized peonies, chrysanthemums, and other blossoms in shades of powder blue, rose, crimson, lavender, and yellow, set against a vivid coral-red ground. The neck is decorated with a distinctive golden-yellow and black-spotted pattern, lending the composition an almost exotic character.

The vase reflects the profound influence of Chinese and Japanese decorative arts on French ceramics during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, interpreted through the bold colors and increasingly stylized ornament associated with the emerging Art Deco movement.

Paul Milet (1870–1950), son of the celebrated ceramicist Félix Optat Milet, operated an important private ceramic manufactory in Sèvres, producing decorative ceramics distinguished by their inventive glazes, sophisticated forms, and artistic experimentation. The underside bears a black printed Sèvres mark within a dotted circular border, consistent in format with marks associated with the Milet manufactory.

In excellent condition, this exceptionally colorful and substantial vase is a remarkable decorative object, equally suited to a traditional interior or an eclectic contemporary setting. See less