Museum – Spoon Holder With Six Heads Of Marianne – Glazed Earthenware – Folk Art – Drôme

Late 19th century

France – Drôme, Dauphiné

A remarkable wall-mounted spoon holder made of pink earthenware with an orange lead glaze, characteristic of folk pottery from the Drôme region in the late 19th century.

This piece stands out for its unique design and richly decorated surface, combining two beveled bowls with a large back panel adorned with six female heads representing Marianne, the allegorical figure of the French Republic.

Arranged symmetrically—three on each side—these stamped heads stand out in relief against the openwork borders of the back panel. Their naive and expressive faces attest to the artistic freedom and inventiveness of the folk potters.

At the center of the composition is a radiant six-pointed rosette, entirely crafted from small clay discs applied in relief. It surmounts a heart motif, while friezes of beads outline the entire design.

The two cups, intended to hold the spoons, each feature a Latin cross standing on a base of raised clay discs, accompanied by the initials “PE.” These decorative elements thus combine religious symbols, geometric motifs, and republican representations in a particularly original composition.

The orange glaze, with its warm and luminous hues, highlights the relief of the decorations and the irregularities of the modeling, giving this household object an almost sculptural presence.

Both utilitarian and decorative, this spoon holder is a remarkable example of folk ceramic art from the Dauphiné region, where rural traditions, beliefs, and republican iconography converge.

Bibliography and Comparisons:

A similar piece, dated 1881, is reproduced in:

Christian Drobac, 19th-Century Cutlery Drains and Spoon Holders: 100 Pieces from Museums and Private Collections, exhibition catalog, Cliousclat, Les Amis de la Poterie, 1997, fig. 54.

Another model, attributed to Sisteron, is mentioned in:

Ph. de Las Cases, Rustic Art in France: Dauphiné and Savoie, Paris, Albin Michel, 1930, p. 109.

Condition: In good overall condition. Original orange glaze, showing some wear, chips, and isolated losses, particularly on the rims and spouts.

Dimensions:

Height: 31.5 cm

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