Paul Milet for Sèvres Lidded Amphora Vase, Decorated by L. Bourgeot, France

Paul Milet for Sèvres Lidded Amphora Vase, Decorated by L. Bourgeot, France circa 1900–1920
This exceptional French porcelain amphora vase, produced in the Sèvres workshops of Paul Milet, captures the refined elegance of early twentieth-century design. The vase is distinguished by its brilliant turquoise glaze enhanced with hand-enameled decoration in shades of green and black. The bold ornamental pattern evokes both Art Nouveau and emerging Art Deco aesthetics, marking the transitional moment between the two styles.

The piece bears the mark of Paul Milet, a leading ceramicist who continued the legacy of his father’s Sèvres atelier, combining artistic creativity with the technical perfection of French porcelain. It is further signed by the decorator L. Bourgeot, known for his finely detailed enamel work and long association with the Milet workshop. Together, their collaboration produced a visually striking piece that embodies both painterly artistry and sculptural form.

With its domed lid, precise form, and luminous color, this vase stands as an impressive decorative object of the period, equally suited to display as a centerpiece or within a curated Art Deco Collection setting. Its vivid glaze and strong geometric patterning reflect the sophistication and experimentation of French decorative arts from the turn of the century.

Paul Milet:
Paul Milet is the son of the ceramist Félix Optat Milet (1838-1911). After training in the laboratory of the Manufacture de Sèvres, he became a chemist and worked in the factory founded by his father in 1866 at 8, rue Troyon in Sèvres, a stone's throw from the Manufacture.

From 1890, he gradually took over from his father. Like him, he will continue to benefit from the collaboration of the artists of the National Ceramics Manufacture of Sèvres. In 1899, he married Marie-Louise Gibert (known as Céline), whose brother Paul held the position of director in Paris at Haviland, a famous Limoges porcelain manufacturer. Paul Milet worked with his father Optat Milet until his death in 1911, then with his son Henri, a ceramics engineer, who was appointed director of the factory in 1931, which did not prevent father and son from work in close collaboration.

Participation in exhibitions
At the Salon des artistes français, Milet exhibits unique but also utilitarian pieces: inkwells, empty pockets, candlesticks. He obtained an honorary diploma at the Fire Arts exhibition in 1897. At the Universal Exhibition of 1900, he obtained a gold medal for his earthenware “of pleasant shapes, decorated by the most diverse processes, cloisonné enamels, enamels on gold paillon. In all these decorations, made from good drawings, Paul Milet uses with discernment the rich palette of enamels that he masters. He also appreciated the texture of sandstone and the Milet house then produced Art Nouveau style sandstone vases. He also presented some at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts in 1902. Paul Milet also exhibited at the Palais Galliera during the Porcelain Exhibition in 1907, then in 1909 and 1911 at the Exhibition of stoneware, earthenware and terracotta.