Pair Of Large Impressionist Barbotine Vases, Jérôme Massier Père, Decor Signed "max"

A pair of large earthenware vases with polychrome slip decoration, produced by the Jérôme Massier Père factory in Vallauris in the late 19th century, circa 1890–1900.

With a slightly twisted baluster shape, these two vases feature an Impressionist floral design composed of daisies and chrysanthemums with yellow, pink, mauve, and white petals, accompanied by green foliage.

The decoration, executed in raised barbotine, is characterized by a freehand style, generous impasto, and juxtaposed colors that give the flowers a particularly lifelike appearance.
The floral compositions stand out against a deep brown glazed background, enlivened by broad, diagonal strokes that follow the twisted forms of the vases. The interior is glazed in turquoise blue.

Both vases bear the signature “Max” within the decoration. They also feature, on their bases, the handwritten signature “Jérôme Massier Père, Vallauris (A.M.),” accompanied by a model number.

Max was a painter and decorator who worked for the Massier factory in Vallauris in the late 19th century. His full identity remains poorly documented to this day. Several ceramics bearing his signature are known, notably pieces with floral decoration executed in slip in a style reminiscent of Impressionist painting.

Jérôme Massier Père (1820–1909) belonged to the prominent Massier dynasty of ceramicists, whose workshops contributed significantly to Vallauris’s artistic renown during the second half of the 19th century. The factory developed a line of decorative earthenware characterized by rich polychrome glazes, naturalistic decorations, and experimentation with forms and materials, foreshadowing, in particular, the Art Nouveau aesthetic.

This pair of vases illustrates the factory’s decorative experimentation in the late 19th century, combining a dynamic form with a spontaneously painted floral design.

Height: 42 cm each.

In good overall condition. A small chip is present on the bottom of one of the two vases.