Gien 1866: Payment For "beggars'" Mud Rolls

This superb pair of Gien earthenware scroll vases is a historic classic from the famous Loire Valley pottery. It features the rare and highly sought-after polychrome decoration known as "aux Gueux" or "Mendiants", inspired by the famous 17th-century engravings by the artist Jacques Callot.

This splendid pair of cylindrical vases (known as “rouleaux”) made of fine glazed earthenware bears the prestigious signature of the Gien manufactory (estimated period 1866–1880). Each vase features a male figure painted in polychrome, spinning in a rural landscape, faithfully adapted from the series of prints Les Gueux (or Les Mendiants) created in Florence around 1622 by the Lorraine engraver Jacques Callot. The piece is further enhanced at its ends (neck and base) by an elegant geometric frieze of godrons and ovals in yellow ochre, black, and white, typical of the faience factory’s high-end productions from that era.

Excellent vibrancy of the glazes and colors; no visible restoration.

Dimensions:
14 cm high
neck diameter 6 cm