Jardinière
ca. 1753–95
Medium
Faience (tin-glazed earthenware)
Dimensions
Overall: 5 1/8 × 5 1/4 × 5 1/4 in. (13 × 13.3 × 13.3 cm)
Classification
Ceramics-Pottery
Culture
French, Sceaux
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.190.1918a, b
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delightful *Jardinière*, a small planter crafted around 1753–95 at the renowned Sceaux faience manufactory in France, showcases the work of painter Fidelle Duvivier. Made of tin-glazed earthenware, or *faience*, it exemplifies the medium's popularity in 18th-century Europe. The tin glaze created a smooth, white surface ideal for vibrant polychrome decoration, allowing artisans like Duvivier to apply intricate hand-painted designs fired at low temperatures. Sceaux faience, produced under royal patronage during the Louis XV era, rivaled porcelain imports with its affordable luxury and playf...