Gien earthenware jug, Renaissance decoration, putto with dolphin.

Elegant jug in Gien earthenware, adorned with the famous Renaissance decor on a white background, inspired by 16th-century Italian majolica and Renaissance grotesques. This decor was one of the great successes of the factory at the end of the 19th century. The shape is baluster, with a long slender neck, a scalloped spout, and a bright blue enamelled scroll handle. On the front, a medallion painted in grisaille on a black background depicts a winged putto riding a dolphin. The cartouche, with a blue border and gilded ornaments, is supported by two tritons holding a crown. It is topped with a canopy and rests on a mascaron between two draperies. On the sides, griffins and winged chimeras unfold among scrolls. The neck is adorned with a flowering and fruiting branch and a frieze of acanthus leaves on the spout. The foot and rim are highlighted with blue fillets. The palette is typical of Gien: golden yellow, ochre, cobalt blue, green, and grisaille. Under the base, the manufacturer's mark with a blue monogram and a number painted in yellow can be found. It is a beautiful decorative piece, to be displayed alone or with other Renaissance earthenware. Dimensions. Height: 24 cm. Width: 12 cm. Condition. Good condition. The decor is well preserved and the colours are vibrant. There is a fine network of crazing (tressaillement) across the entire glaze, due to age and characteristic of old earthenware, as well as slight wear at the foot. There are no visible chips or cracks. Period / Style. Late 19th – early 20th century, neo-Renaissance style. Material. Fine glazed earthenware. Manufacturer. Gien Faience Factory. Provenance. France.