Virebent Manufactory, Very Large Terracotta Flower Basket, Mid-19th Century

Virebent Manufactory in Toulouse
Very large terracotta basket of flowers and fruit, consisting of 5 assembled but detachable pieces
mid-19th century, a few small chips and normal wear and tear.
Dimensions: 95 x 95 x 90 cm
The Virebents: From the late 18th century to the early 20th, the Virebent family played a prominent role in Toulouse. Jacques-Pascal, “the father,” served as the city’s architect for nearly five decades (from 1782 to 1830), which allowed him to oversee the construction of such iconic sites as Place du Capitole and Place Wilson. Virebent reportedly wanted to adorn these sites with numerous acroteria (sculpted ornaments placed at the top of buildings). To meet this demand, he invented a new process called plinthotomy, for which he filed patents in 1831; which involved a die-cutting system that allowed clay to be molded into its final shape before firing, but—most importantly—did not result in the destruction of the mold, as had been the case previously. The designs were often inspired by motifs from the Renaissance or antiquity. However, the factory also employed its own sculptor to create original designs as well