Pair Of Blue-and-white Desvres Earthenware Vases, Fourmaintraux-courquin, Circa 1880

A beautiful and highly decorative pair of antique French earthenware vases made by Fourmaintraux-Courquin in Desvres, circa 1880.

The vases form an original pair, featuring identical molded baluster bodies, four-lobed rims and bases, shell-shaped relief panels, and a rich hand-painted decoration in cobalt blue. Each vase is painted with a complementary pastoral equestrian scene, with one rider heading to the right and the other to the left. When displayed together, the contrasting compositions form a harmonious and visually balanced pair.

The reverse sides are decorated with abundant flowers, foliage, and vigorous rocaille scrollwork. The freehand painting features finely rendered trees and landscapes, subtle variations in cobalt tones, carefully shaded shell motifs, and a supple, confident brushstroke. The combination of sculptural relief and abundant freehand painting attests to the quality of Fourmaintraux-Courquin’s historicist production in Desvres.

The bases bear freehand-painted monograms, most likely a linked “VR,” rendered slightly differently on each vase. Such variation is consistent with the production of the Fourmaintraux-Courquin workshop, where the decorators’ initials were applied freehand rather than with a standardized stamped mark. The identical dimensions, matching molded bodies, corresponding relief decoration, and complementary equestrian scenes confirm that the vases were designed and produced as a pair.

Dimensions of each vase: height 20.2 cm; width 13 cm. Weight: 493 g and 524 g. Condition: One of the vases has a small loss of glaze on the reverse side, visible as a small yellow spot, as well as several fine age-related lines limited to the glaze; examination under UV light confirms that they do not penetrate the ceramic body. The other vase shows traces of old retouching around the neck. Otherwise, both vases are in very good condition for their age; the molded rims, the relief decoration, and the bodies and painted surfaces are all well preserved. Please examine all the photos carefully, as they are an integral part of the listing, and feel free to contact us with any questions.