Antique Ceramic Vase by Primavera France (Early 20th Century)

Antique ceramic vase by Primavera (early 20th Century). A curvaceous, body with narrow base leads to an elegant neck with lip. A frieze of stylised animals and shrubbery encircle the body with a crowning lustrous blue and anthracite neck. A ceramic piece created for a department store now elevated to fine art. This particular vase for Primavera was made by Asch studios in Tours, Sainte-Radegonde. French ceramist Frédéric Gustave Asch (1856-1911) who was active towards the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century is particularly known for his "bleu de Tours", a dark blue enamel close to the famous "bleu de Sèvres". In his workshops in Tours, he made enamelled "bleu de Tours" ceramic vases. Those vases were marked underneath "France" and have the small axe maker's mark for Gustave Asch (as found on the underside of this piece). Primavera were connected to the well known Parisian department store, Printemps. Primavera derives from the Latin for 'spring' whereas Printemps means the same in French. In good overall condition with some minor age-related fading of the lustrous blue. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video of the piece may be provided. 

About Primavera:  Primavera was the design studio of the iconic Parisian department store, Printemps. A collaboration between Printemps and René Guilleré, founder of the Société des Artistes Décorateurs, came into being in 1912 when Guilleré convinced store executives that the buying public was yearning for modern furniture and art objects produced by artisan workshops. His goal: to make beautifully designed utilitarian objects accessible to the public and to renovate the domestic household landscape. Primavera itself later formed a collaboration with C.A.B., (1919 - 1947), a start-up innovative ceramic atelier that only counted 20 workers and six ovens to create their wonderful ceramic objects. This collaboration gained both Primavera and C.A.B. a desirable notoriety for being on the cutting edge of design at that time. 

Dimensions:

H 41 cm / 16.1"

Dia 25 cm / 9.8"