Earthenware with moulded and cast relief decoration, French, 17th century or later, in later ormolu mount

Ewer made of enamelled earthenware and mounted in gilt metal (ormolu). The handle is in the form of a snake and the body is ornamented with fern, other leaves, lizards and shells. The ground is white with green, blue, grey and purple-brown colours. The interior is mottled blue, purple-brown and green.

The gilt metal mounts are probably late 18th century.

Bought from the Pourtales collection.

Bought from the Pourtales collection.
Vente de la galerie Pourtales. [Catalogue des objets d'art ... collections de feu M. le comte de Pourtales-Gorgier et dont la vente aura lieu . fevrier et mars 1865, p. 242, no 1736

Register: Jug. Palissy ware, in gilt metal mounting of later date. The handle formed by a snake, the body ornamented with fern and other leaves, lizards and shells. French, second half of 16th century.

Ewer, earthenware with ormolu mounts, made by Bernard Palissy or a follower. French, second half of 16th century.

This ewer is similar in form (but the spout and handle are different) to one in in the Louvre (see Amico, Refs.) which is attributed to Bernard Palissy or close follower, 1575-1600.
A George Jones for Minton majolica ewer which was modelled after the form of the Louvre (but not its relief decoration) came up for sale at Bonhams on 8 April 2009 (cat. 192).

The gilt metal mounts are probably late 18th century.

Palissy casts his ornaments from real animals, plants, shells and fossils. This jug was originally a vase, decorated with the sort of creatures and plants which populated the artificial garden grottoes he created.

79-1865