Stunning Huge Antique French Majolica Gustave de Bruyn Fives Lille Figural Fish Master Caviar Server

Antiques : Ceramics, Porcelain : Majolica : French

 

What a treat I have for you here! This was a very popular form of majolica caviar server in the late 1800’s in France and Gustave de Bruyn’s faiencerie, Fives-Lille, at Fives in the North of France made the definitive one, of which this is a museum quality example! These are often identified as wallpockets or planters, but their real purpose was for the service of caviar. It dates to between 1870 and 1890. It definitely demonstrates the Victorian’s fascination with the arts of the table and specialized serving ware for what was then considered exotic fare. For example, think of all the asparagus, artichoke, oyster, scallop, strawberry servers you’ll find in majolica. I run into these caviar servers only rarely and when I do, it’s always the smaller examples. This one is a master server which would have been used for grand parties and celebrations and I have never actually had one this size before. (Think how much Petrossian this would take to fill!) It measures 16 ½” long, 5 ¾” wide, and 5 ¾” tall. The molding is deep and crisp and the coloration is beautiful in shades of charcoal and dove gray, pink and rose, with a brilliant yellow, orange, and black eye. The interior is glazed in cotton-candy pink. It is clearly marked on the base with the impressed numbers 785 and 2, and bears the impressed mark of Gustave de Bruyn’s faiencerie, Fives-Lille. It is in museum-quality condition with no chips, cracks, hairlines, repairs, etc. It is, in short, in perfect condition! Shipping weight: 6 lb. 4 oz. (Location: F1)

MEMBER: Majolica International Society

Item ID: RL030812