Mid 20th Century Kutani Style French Porcelain Lidded Ginger Jars - a Pair

Description

20th c., a pair of Japanese Kutani style porcelain lidded jars, stamped on Porcelaine de Paris underside of foot. The … more 20th c., a pair of Japanese Kutani style porcelain lidded jars, stamped on Porcelaine de Paris underside of foot. The mark indicates the piece was produced in the 1970's. The jars are decorated in deep orange, tangerine and gold motifs on a white background. On one side, both jars have matching decoration depicting a scroll showing a pastoral scene. On the other side, each jar has a seperate floral depiction; one including bamboo. Both are highly decorative.

Founded 1773 by Jean-Baptiste Locre, Porcelaine de Paris, was one of the first manufactures to use the Chinese secret of porcelain. It immediately aimed for the luxury trade, selling to the Royal Courts of Europe.
After surviving the French Revolution, Porcelaine de Paris steadily produced tableware as well as purely decorative pieces, receiving orders from all over Europe. Productivity was astonishing, creating one new model every day over 30 years!

Around 1830, Jean-Marx Clauss, a German-born potter bought a building at Rue de la Pierre-Levee, where he took over Locre's activity. M. Achille Bloch then ran the factory from 1887, until 1914. It is during that period that Porcelaine de Paris created 9,500 new items. Following WWI his son Robert transferred a part of the activity to a new factory located 200 miles South of Paris. The decorating studios stayed in Paris. Robert Bloch was helped by his wife, a talented painter who worked with Rob mallet-Stevens. The name "Porcelaine de Paris" associated with the Locre's blue arrows, appeared at that period.

When WWII started in 1939, Robert Bloch went to New York with his family. There, he opened the "Blue Arrows Decorating Workshop" on West Third Street. His partner, Paul Molho went to Madrid. They joined forces again in 1945 to bring the old factory of Rue de la Pierre-Levee back to life.

Dimensions:
13"h x 10"w

Condition:
Good, no visible chips, cracks, or repairs. Show well.

Provenance:
A Private Collection: Park Avenue, NYC; Mark Lawson Antiques, NY less