Zoomorphic ceramic owl vase in Flanders earth, Torhout Belgium, Art Nouveau period

Lovers of Flemish ceramics, you will love this zoomorphic vase with the image of an owl, made by the workshops of the famous Torhout pottery at the beginning of the 20th century. From its origins dating back to the Middle Ages until its almost disappearance following the Second World War, Torhout pottery had the particularity of producing its pieces in the traditional way and firing them in an oven powered only by coal and wood, using the so-called single-fire technique. This ancestral process, which will make Flemish ceramic art famous, gives Torhout pottery an immediately recognizable style in which we can sense the hand of the craftsman who shaped it. This vase with one handle, which represents a humanized owl (is it a beak or a nose?), is in every way representative of the influence of the art nouveau style on the evolution of Torhout pottery. Made of red clay, the local soil of Flanders, it is covered with colored slips, typical of the Torhout style, obtained by mixing clay and metal oxides: cobalt oxide for blue, copper oxide for green, and mixture of lead and manganese oxide for the brown color. The application of the slips in successive drips gives a lot of depth to the colors and a lively appearance to the material. Note that certain parts of the animal's body are in relief and highlighted with fine carvings, also characteristic of this artisanal work of the Torhout potters. A rare and unique piece which constitutes a moving testimony to a popular art which has now disappeared. The vase is in good general condition considering its age. It has some imperfections such as small chips in different places (the most important being behind a peak) or cooking defects. Neck diameter: 7.5 cm.

Ref. : E43312BA