Vauve Perrin - Marseille 1780: Earthenware Box With Provençal Decoration

This magnificent box with its undulating shape is an iconic piece from the famous Veuve Perrin factory in Marseille. It dates from the second half of the 18th century (Louis XV / Rococo period).

This splendid toiletry box or candy jar, crafted from fine Marseille earthenware, comes from the prestigious Veuve Perrin (active from 1748 to 1794) and bears the famous "VP" monogram stamped on the base. A refined collector’s item, it stands as a major testament to the Provençal art of living and refinement during the reign of Louis XV (the workshop of Pierrette Candelot, known as the Widow Perrin, produced exclusively faience "grand feu" and "petit feu" of exceptional quality).

This box stands out for its exceptional hand-painted decoration in "petit feu", a technique that yields a color palette of incomparable vibrancy and freshness.

• On the lid: A lively pastoral scene featuring two children playing or sharing a snack after working in the fields,  set within a lavish rocaille frieze, enhanced with scrollwork, foliage, and volutes in shades of purple-pink, yellow, chartreuse green, and cobalt blue.
• On the body: A continuous decoration of landscape scenes of infinite delicacy depicting 18th-century Provence, with its farmhouses and churches,  a fisherman with his dog by the water’s edge, an elegant woman seated near a ruin, and a charming farmyard scene featuring a turkey and her chicks.

The box retains its original chiseled bronze mount featuring a twisted wave motif, complete with its functional period clasp.

The enamel retains a remarkable luster and brilliance, characteristic of Marseille-made pieces from this period. Superficial firing or age-related hairline cracks are visible on the lid but in no way detract from the sturdiness or beauty of this display piece. An absolute rarity for discerning collectors of Enlightenment-era ceramics.

Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 6 cm