Round Earthenware Planter From Langeais Decorated With Bunches Of Grapes, Signed Cb, 19th Century

Round Langeais earthenware jardinière decorated with bunches of grapes, 19th century. Marked underneath in relief: CB for Charles Heard of Boissimon and Langeais. Circa 1862. Creamy white with platinum highlights. Very fine coiled work in a basket-weave effect. Decoration of bunches of grapes and vine shoots with leaves rendered in the round. Handles with movable rings. Slightly flattened base made of interlaced coils. Very good overall condition. Minor wear to the platinum, one small restored flower on the base. Height: 16.5 cm, diameter at the neck: 14 cm, diameter at the base: 13 cm, length with handles: 18 cm. Inside the jardinière: 3 dots arranged in an equilateral triangle (discreet Masonic presence). Piece from the collection of a discerning collector. Masonic Langeais: Langeais with Masonic decoration and the symbols of the great builders are rare, but the abundance of vegetal decorative elements presented by The group of three reveals a strong affiliation. Many Langeais pieces feature triplets, whether triads of ivy berries, acorns, or other motifs. There is a clear composition evocative of the three Masonic points. These three points are also found very discreetly placed at the bottom of all the woven baskets, as well as at the bottom of the tobacco jars. They appear very subtly as three unglazed points arranged in an equilateral triangle. This is done so subtly that one might mistake them for marks made with a pernette (a type of tool), but the perfect spacing between the points suggests that this was done using a tripod designed for this purpose. Many pieces also bear the five-pointed star. Charles de Boissimon's membership in the Freemasons is not revealed, but his work reflects a man of duty and progress. Several workers at the pottery factory belonged to the Tours Lodge. The faience from Langeais is the most discreet and subtle of Masonic ceramics.