Art Nouveau Style Vase With A Bulbous Belly, l'Herniné-declercq (1904-1910)

This rare double-bellied, gourd-shaped vase is a remarkable example of early 20th-century majolica production from the French manufactory of Orchies, directed by Emile L'Herminé-Declercq.

The piece embodies the very essence of Art Nouveau with its organic lines and vibrant, realistic decoration. The vase is crafted in a striking turquoise that serves as a luminous backdrop to the hand-painted floral motif in relief. The decorative composition is carefully adapted to the vase's curves: the voluminous lower section features blooming flowers in shades of soft pink and warm ochre, framed by stylized leaves in a deep green. In the upper section, this theme is subtly echoed with pendulous flowers and striking heart-shaped leaf motifs around the rim.

About the workshop:
In 1886, Emile L'Herminé-Declercq and his brother Joseph founded the renowned Orchies pottery factory in northern France. Emilie already owned a factory in Rebaix, Belgium, and chose Orchies for its proximity to other ceramic centers such as Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. Initially, the factory focused on producing everyday objects and tiles, but from 1904 onward, it shifted towards more artistic creations, resulting in the characteristic Art Nouveau pieces, recognizable by the OLD mark, an acronym for Orchies L'Herminé Declercq. Following a merger in 1923, the Faïenceries du Moulin des Loups & Hamage were established, identifiable by their stamp depicting a windmill.