"enamelled Cast Iron Cachepot, Emaillerie Du Bourget, France, Circa 1875/1880"

Pair of enameled cast iron citrus planters, Émaillerie du Bourget – E. Pâris & Cie, Paris, France, circa 1875–1880. A rare and important pair of 19th-century enameled cast iron citrus planters, made by the renowned Émaillerie du Bourget (E. Pâris & Cie), one of the leading French manufacturers of decorative cast iron and architectural enameling. These planters feature a sumptuous decoration of stylized foliate motifs in blue and coral on a white background, directly inspired by the earthenware of the Royal Manufactory of Rouen, highly prized during the Second Empire and the Third Republic. The quality of the enamel, the delicacy of the decoration, and the monumental forms attest to the high level of production of this manufactory. The side handles are adorned with molded heads in relief, accentuating the sculptural and decorative character of these pieces, originally designed to hold orange and citrus trees in the winter gardens and orangeries of bourgeois or aristocratic residences. Each cachepot is signed in relief: "E. PARIS & CIE – 47 rue de Paradis Poissonnière – Paris," a signature attesting to their authenticity and provenance. Dimensions (each piece): Height: 49 cm; Overall diameter: 60 cm; Opening diameter: 35 cm. Condition: Wear, chips, and traces of oxidation are present, consistent with age and original outdoor use, without altering the legibility of the decoration or the overall solidity. There are also a few chips. History: The Saint-Joseph Glassworks and Enamel Works in Le Bourget, founded by Charles-Émile Pâris, an engineer of Arts and Manufactures, continues a great French industrial tradition. His father, Jean-Alexandre Pâris, jeweler to the king, had established a crystal and enameling factory in Bercy as early as 1827. In 1867, production was transferred to Le Bourget, allowing the enameling business to experience significant growth until the factory's destruction during the war.