Style Egyptian / Ref.14591

Émile GALLÉ, Jardiniere with a design inspired by the nature of Pharaonic Egypt, circa 1879-1890

This ceramic jardinière, with a design inspired by the natural world of ancient Egypt, was created by Émile Gallé in the late 19^th century.

Considered the founding father of Art Nouveau, Émile Gallé (1846-1904) took over the manufactory established by his father and gave it a decisive new direction, which he sustained throughout his life with his ever-renewed creativity. Ancient Egypt and its culture were among his favored sources of inspiration, as evidenced by this work.

The artist selected two complementary colors, brown and blue, to structure the piece and give it a distinct harmony. The blue forms faux drips over the brown, perhaps evoking the Nile’s floods that fertilized Egyptian soil. The brown background features reed stems, reed flowers, and papyrus blooms. A flying scarab with wings resembling those of a bird references the god Khepri, the manifestation of the rising sun. The entire design is enhanced with gold accents.

A similar piece in shape but featuring a Japanese-inspired design was sold at auction by Tajan in Paris in 2013.

The Egyptian inspiration in this piece is also echoed in a jardinière shaped like a falcon housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. In that work, Gallé also incorporated designs of reeds and papyrus, as well as a flying scarab with large falcon-like wings.

For more information on this work, see the video on MarcMaison.art.