VILLEROY & BOCH METTLACH 1890 Phanolith Neo Classic Green Cameo Amphora
A neo classic green cameo amphora designed by Villeroy & Boch in Mettlach.
This is a very rare tall Phanolith cameo vase, created in Germany by the Villeroy & Boch Mettlach company, back in the 1890's. The massive tall vase has been crafted with neo classic patterns of a two-handles amphora in green Phanolith and stoneware with translucent white cameo, showing two different mythological scenes of the three graces. Mettlach Phanolith items were translucent and made of soft-paste porcelain in the technique developed at Mettlach by Jean Baptiste Stahl. This technique is similar to that of the earlier Wedgwood wares from England. The American Museum of Ceramic Art has in their permanent collection a very similar one to this.
Jean-Baptiste Stahl
He was the inventor and designer of the Phanolith. He grew up in the traditional pottery of his family. His studies of ceramics, modelling and sculpture led him to Strasbourg and Höhr-Grenzhausen. His detailed, translucent and finely worked porcelain reliefs gained him a gold medal at the 1900 Paris World's Fair. Partly influenced by Art Nouveau, Jean-Baptiste Stahl took topics from Greek mythology and rural life. Usually, the white translucent figures are finely set on a blue or green background that partly shines through. Striking is his absolute eye for the detailed modelling of his figures in a very delicate and lively way. In order to increase the three-dimensional illusion, he carefully modulated the transparency of the white porcelain. On the one hand, parts of the scene and figures with higher translucency, i.e. darker tint, were precisely placed to evoke the impression of shadow. On the other hand, he used this means in a way to let parts in the background systematically fade out the further away they should appear. The most prominent figures in a scene show the highest fraction of pure white. In this way Jean-Baptiste Stahl achieves mastery of the so-called pate sur pate style in that his rather flat reliefs of his mature period demonstrate the three-dimensional illusion most prominently. Jean-Baptiste Stahl explored the variation of the translucency of the white porcelain as painters do, who simulate changing lights, shadows, depth and plasticity by varying the brightness of the colours. He signed his work either with J Stahl or JS.
Villeroy & Boch Mettlach
In 1836, a pottery company founded by François Boch and located in Mettlach, Germany, merged with another founded by Nicolas Villeroy to form the famous ceramic company called Villeroy & Boch (V&B). By the late 19th century V&B had seven factories, but the one at Mettlach, most famous and celebrated for its production of Chromolith (etched, incised) wares, became known by the name of the village: Mettlach. The Mettlach factory also produced wares using adapted techniques of high and low relief, PUG (printed under glaze), Phanolith, Cameo and hand-painted wares in the form of steins, plaques, vases, jardinières, table wares, and more. These wares were exhibited in the “Crystal Palace Exposition” in London in 1851 and in the “World Fairs” in Paris in 1878 and 1900 and Antwerp in 1885. Mettlach wares were exported to the U.S. by the late 19th century, including items made specifically for the American market. Displayed at the World Fair exhibitions in Philadelphia (1876) and Chicago (1893), Mettlach ware became even more widely known. Further, many steins, including those made by Mettlach, found their way to the United States with soldiers returning from WWI and WWII. As a result of these circumstances, a significant portion of the existing Mettlach pieces are located and collected in the US today.
Country: Mettlach Germany.
Period: Neoclassic, 1890-1899.
Weight: About 5 pounds, (10.87 Dwt).
Measurements: 370 mm by 165 mm by 165 mm, (14.56 x 6.52 x 6.52 Inches).
Hallmarks: Stamped with the incuse maker's mark, the model number and signed in full as follows, "METTLACH VB 28 GES-GESCH 7052". The bottom of the base is marked for Mettlach and VB for Villeroy & Boch.
Condition: The overall condition of this Villeroy & Boch Mettlach amphora vase is excellent. Besides the little normal wear, there is no damage and all parts are secured in the settings. This piece has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D052425VONM/.6082
