Not currently on display at the V&A

Vase

1878 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Japanese art inspired the bag-like shape and fish and waterweed decoration of this vase. The designer, François-Eugène Rousseau, inherited a shop in Paris that sold glass and ceramics. He began to design glass around 1867. At this time he was one of the first to welcome Japanese influence both in his own pieces and work he commissioned from other artists. Most of his designs were made by Appert Frères at Clichy. This vase was shown in the International Exhibition, Paris, in 1878.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Glass, mould-blown, decorations engraved and enamelled, with applied relief
Brief description
Vase, France (Paris), commissioned by François-Eugène Rousseau, probably made by Appert Frères at Clichy glassworks, 1878-1878
Physical description
Conceived as one of a pair (the other being 673A-1878), this vase is a loose flattened shape with blue glass applied to appear like running droplets of water and the witty, yet graceful decoration of fishes swimming under a clear surface on which is engraved floating water weeds. It is directly influenced by similar effects used in Japanese pottery.
Dimensions
  • Width: 17.3cm
  • Height: 24.5cm
Width 17.5 cm Depth 10.5 cm
Marks and inscriptions
'E Rousseau ' (Designers and retailer's signature; incised)
Gallery label
  • Label for 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900', Gallery 101, de-canted March 2017: '3 Class Vases 1878 Shown at the International Exhibition Paris, 1878 Rousseau inherited a shop in Paris selling fine ceramics and glass. When he began to design glass himself around 1867, he as particularly interested in Japanese art. The shapes of the vases, and the idea of fish swimming beneath the water weeds, are both Japanese in inspiration. France, Paris; designed by François-Eugène Rousseau; probably manufactured by Appert Frères at Clichy Glassworks Glass, mould-blown, with enamelling, engraving and applied relief decoration Museum nos. 673, 674-1878'(22/04/2017)
  • VASE François Eugène Rousseau (1827-1891) Designer Attributed to Appert Frères Manufacturers France (Clichy): about 1878 Glass with engraved and enamelled decoration 673-1878 Rousseau inherited a shop in Paris selling ceramics and glass. He was particularly influenced by Japanese art when he began to design glass around 1867. Most of his designs were executed by Appert Frères at Clichy. The informal bag-like shape of this vase and the idea of fish swimming under the surface on which float water-weeds are all Japanese in inspiration. Shown in the international exhibition, Paris, 1878 (1987-2006)
  • VASE 673-1878 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900' Rousseau inherited a shop in Paris selling fine ceramics and glass. He was particularly influenced by Japanese art when he began to design glass himself around 1867. Most of his designs were executed by Appert Frères at Clichy. Both the formal bag-like shape of this piece, and the idea of fish swimming under the surface on which float water weeds, are Japanese in inspiration. One of a pair, the vase was exhibited at the 1878 Paris International Exhibition: it was bought from Eugène Rousseau.(1987-2006)
Subject depicted
Summary
Japanese art inspired the bag-like shape and fish and waterweed decoration of this vase. The designer, François-Eugène Rousseau, inherited a shop in Paris that sold glass and ceramics. He began to design glass around 1867. At this time he was one of the first to welcome Japanese influence both in his own pieces and work he commissioned from other artists. Most of his designs were made by Appert Frères at Clichy. This vase was shown in the International Exhibition, Paris, in 1878.
Bibliographic reference
Arwas, Room 8 labels etc; Aslin, E French Exbn Pieces
Collection
Accession number
673-1878

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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