Antique French Hand-Painted Enamel Biggins Cafetiere circa 1890

It is complete with all four pieces. The bright and delicious bird-egg blue color sets off the brilliantly fresh colors of the hand-painted bird, butterfly and flowers.

Each part of the decorative design first began with a raised surface (this is only seen in early cafetiere pots......later ones the design remains flat on the surface of the pot). These raised surfaces, in the forms of leaves, flowers, a bird and a butterfly are then meticulously hand painted. The piece is then fired to set the colors of the enamel. Dogwood blossoms with green leaves and a yellow and brown butterfly flutter forth from one side. The opposing side depicts a rather chubby bird, with a yellow belly and a red head, it's wings outstretched in flight above pink dogwood blossoms with green leaves. The lid is adorned with pink dogwood flowers and green leaves.

The cafetiere is in good condition, with normal loss of enamel along the bottom and around the lid and top of the pot. The enamel decoration is in excellent condition, the original colors fresh and vibrant. The bird-egg blue background color is still fresh and vibrant.

Early cafetieres, complete with all four pieces, are becoming harder and harder to come by. This beautiful example would make a fine addition to a collection, or would stand alone beautifully in a French "cuisine".

The measurements are: 11" tall, 3 3/4" diameter around the top and 5" diameter around the bottom, 8 3/4" wide across from the tip of the spout to the widest point of the handle.

Item ID: MT287