It’s been said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. Luckily for collectors, flowers have been a source of decorative inspiration for centuries, their beautifully subtle forms found in everything from textiles to paintings, ceramics to sculpture. Now barbotine, one of the more unusual techniques found in ceramics stemming from the ancient world is hitting the auction block at Great Gatsby’s.
Barbotine, which takes its name from the French for ‘ceramic slip,’ was popularized during the second half of the 19th century by celebrated factories such as Limoges and Sevres. This period of collecting saw no shortage of household ornamentation and barbotine, with its molded forms applied to the main vessel when fully dry, provided a unique departure from conventional painted ceramics.
Like majolica, another popular form of European ceramics, barbotine takes its inspiration from the natural world and celebrates the forms which have provided aesthetic pleasure for centuries. Flora and fauna abound, making barbotine the perfect complement to the small animals, sea creatures and plates of food that populate majolica pieces in rich and vibrant palettes. Fresh from a Florida estate, Great Gatsby’s is pleased to offer a series of barbotine pieces for the most curious and romantic of collector. Each piece is individually hand crafted and in a refreshing array of colors, from deep blue offsetting violet-rimmed roses, pink blooms bursting against golden-hued backgrounds, to dramatic pale yellow petals practically curling from the vessel. Whether paired or displayed alone, these charming vases would make a lovely addition to any home with the versatile nature of flowers able to complement the most antique or modern of furnishings.
