Longwy Primavera Art Deco Ball Vase, “les Baigneuses” – Jean Olin – 18.5 Cm

Welcome to my shop.

An exceptional small Art Deco ball vase produced by the famous French pottery of Longwy for Atelier Primavera, the influential art studio of the Printemps department store in Paris.

The vase features the famous “Les Baigneuses” design, created by S. Olesiewicz, better known by his artist name Jean Olin. S. Olesiewicz and Jean Olin are thus two names used by the same Franco-Polish artist and decorator.

The composition depicts three highly stylized bathers in an imaginary landscape. A fair-skinned woman is seated in the foreground. Behind her sits a Black woman, while a third Black female figure stands to the right. The three women are surrounded by lush, exotic vegetation.

The design is executed using the characteristic technique of Longwy polychrome cloisonné enamels. Fine dark outlines separate the different colored areas. The particularly expressive color palette combines turquoise with various shades of blue, purple, black, white, and a few touches of yellow.

The luminous turquoise background features the fine network of craquelure characteristic of historic Longwy enamels. The neck and circular base are accented with gilding.

Due to its compact and nearly perfectly spherical shape, this model is also known in English as the “Art Deco Ball Vase.” This small 18.5-cm version featuring the “Les Baigneuses” design is much rarer than the better-known large Primavera-Longwy vases.

The base bears the manufacturer’s green stamp:

Primavera
Longwy
France

A four-digit production or model number, partially erased and painted in blue, is also visible, followed by the letter A: “?860 A.” The first digit can no longer be deciphered with certainty.

Model: Art Deco Ball Vase
Decor: Les Baigneuses
Designer: S. Olesiewicz, known as Jean Olin
Manufacturer: Faïencerie de Longwy
Produced for: Atelier Primavera, Le Printemps, Paris
Date: circa 1925
Origin: France
Material: earthenware with polychrome cloisonné glazes
Height: 18.5 cm
Diameter: 18.5 cm

Condition:

The vase is in good original condition and has not undergone any restoration. The fine network of craquelure is part of the original glazing technique and is characteristic of historic Longwy glazes. The gilding on the neck and base shows normal wear in places due to age.

Please examine the photographs carefully; they are an integral part of the description.

A small, particularly charming and sought-after version of the iconic “Les Baigneuses” design .” A fine example of the collaboration between Longwy, Jean Olin, and the Atelier Primavera during the height of the French Art Deco period.

Thank you for visiting my shop.

Best regards,
Ben