Not currently on display at the V&A

Vase

1878 (made)
Artist/Maker
Appert Frères (manufacturer)
Rousseau, François Eugène (designer)
Place of origin
Paris (made)

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
ELISE
Glass
Vases
SCRAN
Object type
Vase
Materials and techniques
Glass, mould-blown and enamelled with applied relief
Brief description
Vase, France (Paris), designed by François-Eugène Rousseau, probably made by Clichy glassworks, 1878-1878
Physical description
This vase is of a loose flattened shape with running glazes and the witty, yet graceful decoration of fishes swimming under a clear blue glaze surface on which is engraved floating water weeds. It is directly influenced by the surface effects of Japanese pottery.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.8cm
Height 16.5 cm Width 10 cm Depth 5.5 cm
Style
19TH CONT
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 Francois Eugene Rousseau (1827-1891) Designer Attributed to Appert Freres Manufacturers France (Clichy): about 1878 Glass with enamelled and applied decoration 674-1878 This vase was part of Rousseau's display at the Paris 1878 Exhibition, in which Japanese influence was conspicuous. The impact of Japanese forms and design was reflected in many of the French displays. Japan's own 1878 exhibit had a far-reaching influence on a new generation of potters and glassmakers. In this piece, Rousseau has combined both painted and applied raised decoration to idiosyncratic three-dimensional effect. Rousseau retired in 1885 and his glass studio was continued by Ernest Baptiste Leveille. VASE Francois Eugene Rousseau (1827-1891) Designer Attributed to Appert Freres Manufacturers France (Clichy): about 1878 Glass with engraved and enamelled decoration 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
Subject depicted
Fish
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
Ceramics Collection
Accession number
674-1878

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1757/vase-rousseau-françois-eugène/
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