19th Century French Faience Five-Spout Tulipière with Birds and Flowers

A wonderfully decorative 19th-century French faience tulipière, hand-painted with charming botanical and animal motifs in a soft palette of green, ochre, blue and warm orange against a creamy white ground.

The flattened, heart-shaped body is surmounted by five individually formed flower spouts, allowing blooms to be arranged separately in the traditional tulipière manner. Sculptural scrolling handles flank either side, while the vessel is raised on a shaped pedestal foot decorated with further hand-painted floral detail.

Particularly charming is the decoration on either face. One side depicts a colourful bird perched amongst flowering branches, while the reverse features a wonderfully whimsical running animal or mythical creature surrounded by foliage. Small stylized floral devices decorate the individual spouts, giving the piece visual interest from every angle.

The slightly irregular form, hand-painted decoration and gently time-worn surface give the tulipière the character associated with provincial French faience. Its sculptural silhouette makes it equally appealing displayed empty as a decorative object or filled with individual stems.

The piece displays age-related wear, surface variation and scattered losses to the glaze consistent with its age and handmade nature, all contributing to its wonderfully collected appearance.

Dimensions: 8” x 7.5”