Hector Guimard, Rare Ceramic Planter, Art Nouveau

Hector Guimard (1867–1942)

Very important Art Nouveau planter in enamelled earthenware, created circa 1897, resting on six feet. The piece features a swollen central body framed by two bulging sections, whose supple, organic lines perfectly embody Guimard’s characteristic aesthetic. Long, dynamic branch-like motifs emerge from the shoulder and extend gracefully to form sculptural handles, giving the piece a vegetal movement typical of the Art Nouveau style.

The surface is adorned with grey-green and beige glazes, enhanced by touches of blue and yellow, producing a subtle and natural chromatic interplay. The reverse of the base bears a partial “Gilardoni Brault Choisy Le Roy” stamp, along with a black-enamelled RB monogram.
Dimensions: H. 24 cm – L. 68 cm – D. 31 cm

• Guimard, exhibition catalogue, Musée d’Orsay, Éditions de la Réunion des musées nationaux, Paris, 1992, p. 262.

• Frédéric Descouturelle and Olivier Pons, La Céramique et la Lave émaillée d’Hector Guimard, Éditions du Cercle Guimard, Paris, 2022, p. 73.