Art Deco “Baigneuses” Ceramic Vase by Atelier Primavera and Longwy, France

Art Deco “Baigneuses” Ceramic Vase by Atelier Primavera and Longwy, France, Circa 1920s
A striking Art Deco “Baigneuses” vase, created by Atelier Primavera and the Faïenceries et Emaux de Longwy, France, circa the 1920s. The design features stylized reclining female bathers set among bold blue leaves and floral motifs, combining the sensuality of the human figure with the strong graphic vocabulary of French Art Deco. Its generous gourd or onion shaped body rises from a broad rounded base to a narrow collar and glossy black neck, giving the vessel a particularly sculptural presence.

The ceramic surface displays the celebrated Longwy crackled glaze, a brilliant range of colors with shades of turquoise, pale blue and deep cobalt set against black outlining and ivory colored figures. The decoration has the appearance of cloisonné, with the dark contours defining each figure, leaf and flower while emphasizing the curves of the vessel. Bands of blue and black encircle the upper body, providing a strong architectural counterpoint to the more fluid figurative decoration below.

The collaboration with Primavera, the influential design atelier established by the Paris department store Printemps, places this vase firmly within the modern decorative arts movement of the 1920s. Both sophisticated and playful, the design brings together color, geometry and the fashionable imagery of the period. A significant decorative object while remaining ideal for display on a console, cabinet or occasional table.