French Art

French Art

Antique Lighting - Very Rare, Mid 18th Century, French Faience Table Lamp

The French 18th century saw the full flowering of decorative art and France led the rest of Europe in artistic expression and high style.  It was in the region of Marseille that saw the production of some of the most beautiful examples of French faience.  “Faience” being the French name for tin glazed earthenware,

known to the Dutch and English as “Delft” and “Majolica” in Italy. 

One of the most outstanding of these manufactories was opened in 1740 by Claude Perrin (1696-1748) & when he died in 1748 it was his widow, 

Madame Pierrette Candelot, who took over the management of production. This alone, in the middle of the 18th century, was considered highly unusual. 

 Under her leadership production flourished, especially the quality of the flower painting.  With outstanding foresight Madam Perrin enrolled her faience painters in French art academies to develop and refine the elegant style of flower painting that we can see today.  Painting on faience was notoriously difficult, the painter using the glazed faïence surface as the canvas. 

The French 18th century was the century of the Rococo and floral painting was expressed in this beautiful style. 

The style known as "Décor Floral Naturaliste le Grand Fleur" is naturalistic, although not botanical, informal and yet with a sense of formality.  Flower painting of loose bouquets of summer flowers, small sprays and sprigs, quite often with moths and butterflies, ladybirds and caterpillars and it is known that many of the painters picked bunches of flowers on the way to work as models for the day. 

The majority of pieces produced are marked with the letters "VP" the initials for the French "Veuve Perrin" which means Perrin's widow.  Madame Perrin died in 1793 and production continued, although in decline until 1803. 

The manufactory struggled through the violence of the French revolution which finally saw the collapse of the Rococo "Déco Floral".

"A very rare, mid 18th century, French Faience vase as a table lamp of great charm.  This is an early example of the Faience of Claude Perrin of Marseille. 

The lamp delicately painted in a bright palette of enamels with a large loose bouquet of summer flowers and garden insects.The flowers include pink and yellow roses, forget-me-nots, daisies and morning glory.The lamp on a 19th century French ormolu base of Rococo style."

These summer flowers are 260 years old and still as fresh as the summer of 1750! 

Veuve Perrin -   Louis VX -  Circa 1750  Overall height  22"/56cm

The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co specialise in antique table lamp lighting with an on-line range of over 100 unique, antique and vintage lamps on view.

Lamps are shipped ready wired for the U.S, the U.K and Australia.

You are invited to visit their web site at www.antiquelampshop.com

© The Antique & Vintage Table Lamp Co 2009

About the Author

Maurice Robertson, principal of The Antique and Vintage Table Lamp Co , has had a lifetime’s association with antique porcelain and pottery,with his commercial experience spaning a period of 40 years,including as a valuer to the Australian Government’s Incentive to the Arts Scheme. His long experience with antique ceramics and glass also includes dealing with leading museums and numerous international private collections. He has extended his ceramics expertise into the quality table lamps seen on the company’s site, he is well known to local and international interior designers who have included many of his table lamps in their projects and has also supplied items of national interest to the official Sydney residence of the Australian Prime Minister.

Please can you tell me of some French art schools/universities?

Possibly in Paris?

Try the following:

Conservatoire national supérieur de musique et de danse de Paris
Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (CNSAD)
École des Beaux-Arts

Good luck!

Impressionism: A French Art Movement