"napoleon," Liqueur Bottle, Robj, Paris

A glazed earthenware bottle depicting Napoleon, dressed in his long coat and tricorn hat, in a pose characteristic of the figure.

This bottle is part of a humorous series designed by Robj in 1928. It is signed “Robj, Paris, made in France” on the bottom. The bicorne hat serves as the bottle’s stopper.

Dimensions: 25.5 cm x 8 cm at the base.

Condition: a small, barely visible chip on the hat.

Robj

In 1908, Jean Born became interested in electric lighters, founded his company, and registered his designs in 1910. In 1916, he expanded his line to include artistic porcelain objects. His name was changed to ROBJ. In 1922, he was succeeded by Lucien Willmetz, who established the ROBJ style. The characteristics of ROBJ objects perfectly captured the spirit of the times, and success was immediate: humorous and utilitarian trinkets made of porcelain, fine earthenware, or glass, featuring colorful forms inspired by Cubism—often anthropomorphic or evoking the Ballets Russes.

ROBJ was featured at the 1925 World’s Fair. In 1928, the company’s greatest success emerged: liqueur bottles; and in 1929, tobacco jars. Elegance, modernity, and originality are ever-present, while maintaining a cheerful and inventive spirit, and the mix of themes and subjects also contributes to this success.

Unfortunately, the studio was unable to weather the 1929 crisis.