The French 18th century saw the full flowering of decorative art and France led the rest of Europe in artistic expression and high style. It was in the region of Marseille that saw the production of some of the most beautiful examples of French faience. “Faience” being the French name for tin glazed earthenware,

known to the Dutch and English as “Delft” and “Majolica” in Italy.

One of the most outstanding of these manufactories was opened in 1740 by Claude Perrin (1696-1748) & when he died in 1748 it was his widow, Madame Pierrette Candelot, who took over the management of production. This alone, in the middle of the 18th century, was considered highly unusual.

Under her leadership production flourished, especially the quality of the flower painting. With outstanding foresight Madam Perrin enrolled her faience painters in French art academies to develop and refine the elegant style of flower painting that we can see today. Painting on faience was notoriously difficult, the painter using the glazed faïence surface as the canvas.

The French 18th century was the century of the Rococo and floral painting was expressed in this beautiful style.

The style known as “Décor Floral Naturaliste le Grand Fleur” is naturalistic, although not botanical, informal and yet with a sense of formality. Flower painting of loose bouquets of summer flowers, small sprays and sprigs, quite often with moths and butterflies, ladybirds and caterpillars and it is known that many of the painters picked bunches of flowers on the way to work as models for the day.

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Tags: Antique Lighting - Very Rare, French Faience Table Lamp, Mid 18th Century