Fine earthenware bowl on a pedestal base – Grigny factory, circa 1830–1860

An antique pedestal bowl of rare elegance, a precious example of early 19th-century French earthenware. The pedestal features a magnificent deep green decoration with romantic scenes: floral rocaille cartouches, lakeside landscapes, sailboats, village architecture, and small bouquets printed in remarkably fine dotwork. The decoration is typical of the early decades of the 19th century, when romantic imagery blended with fine French earthenware. The piece bears an erased but perfectly attributable stamp to the Decean pottery of Grigny (Rhône), active from 1829 to 1868. Its crowned coat of arms – sometimes accompanied by a workshop letter such as "L" – is a characteristic mark of the company's production. Founded in 1829, the Grigny pottery factory was one of the very first in France to master the "fire-earthenware" technique in coal kilns, a technically demanding but revolutionary process for its time. Awarded a bronze medal in 1834, a silver medal in 1839, and then a distinction at the 1855 Paris Universal Exhibition, pieces from this period are now rare and highly sought after. In beautiful antique condition, with the expected patina of age for a piece nearly two centuries old: minor crazing and small, inconsequential marks. A harmonious, solid, and perfectly decorative piece. Diameter 24 cm, height 12 cm, depth 4 cm. An exceptional piece, perfect for a curatorial vintage-inspired décor where each object tells a story.