Style Napoleon III / Ref.17878

A. TEBARQUE - Pair of women portraits made out of glazed stoneware

This pair of medallions was made by A. Tebarque around 1880-1890 out of faience enameled in relief. Featuring two female portraits, the painter perfectly mastered the enamels and brushstrokes, and used an abundance of colour. Tebarque also made the women very realistic. On one side, a woman with ashy blonde colour hair; blue eyes, seems to be dressed in a white dress with a lace neckline, whilst a deep dark blue coat is wrapped around her shoulders against the sky blue background of the medallions. On the other side, the second woman, brown, dark eyes, is dressed in the same style, a yellow pastel dress with a lace neckline and a large brown coat. Like a game of colours, Tebarque matched the colours of his characters' eyes with the colours of their adornments. The two women have realistic flowers made out of metallic enamel in their hair. The background of the two medallions, a sky blue colour, is decorated with floral apple tree branches carved in relief.

A. Tebarque was well known towards the end of the 19th century, particularly for having created the medal decor for the Northern rail company. Here he illustrated his best work, by mastering his shapes and by his technique of the enameled faience portrait, thus placing himself in the direct wake of a Théodore Deck.