Art Nouveau Pair Of Japanese-style Vases By édouard Gilles – Paris – Circa 1880

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A remarkable pair of French earthenware vases by Édouard Gilles, made in Paris during the second half of the 19th century, probably around 1880.

These slender vases feature a pale green background entirely hand-painted with a delicate, naturalistic design inspired by Japanese art. They are adorned with flowering branches, pink flowers, elegant blue and green foliage, and multicolored butterflies.

The designs on the two vases are similar, though not perfectly identical. Each vase is thus a unique work of art, while the two pieces clearly form a pair.

The bright yellow handles, curved downward, as well as the mottled mauve decoration around the necks, are particularly striking.

Both vases bear the monogram “EG” on their bases, corresponding to the Parisian ceramicist Édouard Gilles. The handwritten word “Paris” also appears beneath each piece. One of the vases, moreover, retains its original label from L’Escalier de Cristal, Paris, near the Opera.

L’Escalier de Cristal was a prestigious Parisian establishment specializing in the sale of art and luxury objects from leading French designers and workshops. The presence of this original label therefore lends this pair a particularly interesting provenance.

Édouard Gilles established his own ceramics studio in Paris in 1868. His artistic earthenware is particularly recognizable by its naturalistic depictions of flowers, birds, and insects, often rendered in the Japanese-inspired style that was highly sought after at the time.

Dimensions of each vase:

Height: 28.4 cm
Maximum width: 11.5 cm

Condition:

The pair is in authentic, decorative vintage condition, with signs of age and use. Several small chips in the glaze and ceramic are present on the necks and around the bases. The tip of one yellow handle has a more noticeable chip. A few small surface imperfections and manufacturing irregularities are also present.

The condition has been carefully photographed. Please examine all photographs closely, as they are an integral part of the description.

An attractive pair of French vases in the Japanese style, notable for the delicacy of their hand-painted decoration, the Édouard Gilles monogram, and the original label from the prestigious L’Escalier de Cristal.

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Best regards,
Ben