Drawing on Japan
Ceramics designed by the artist Félix Bracquemond pioneered the use of motifs drawn from Japanese art in 19th-century French decorative arts. Larry Simms publishes here two extraordinary overlooked porcelain services by Bracquemond that add greatly to our understanding of his career.
Larry Simms, Monday, 25th August 2008
11 In the Tarif des porcelaines et des faïences de Haviland & Co, op. cit., one page of illustrations, p. 26, showing pieces in a dessert service, including four table plates each with a different geisha, refers to the set as ‘decor numero 2403.’ Another page of illustrations, p. 54, showing eight pitchers, seven with different geishas and one with a fan refers to the decor as ‘decor figures et accessoires japonais’. The other illustration, p. 55, showing a covered tobacco pot with one of the 13 geisha images, shown also in the illustration for the dessert service, refers to the decor as ‘décor no. 2437.’
12 Jean d’Albis, ‘Compilation de lettres de Bracquemond’, B21 21/4/73, typescript, private collection, Paris.
13 Invoice of porcelain in Philadelphia exhibition imported by Haviland & Co., 1876. See note 23 for further clarification regarding the identification of these sets.
14 Flower or bird images from Hokusai’s Manga appear in all seven of the Bracquemond etchings for this porcelain service produced by Haviland and Company. Specifically, Beraldi 666 includes birds from the Manga, vol. IV, pp. 14 and 15. Beraldi 667 includes flowers from the Manga, vol. IV, pp. 17 and 30. Beraldi 668 includes birds from the Manga, vol. XV, p. 46. Beraldi 669 includes flowers from the Manga, vol. II, pp. 42 and 43. Beraldi 670 includes birds from the Manga, vol. II, p. 44. Beraldi 671, includes birds from the Manga, vol. IV, pp. 13 and vol. IX, p. 28. Beraldi 672, includes birds from the Manga, vol. II, p. 44. I have, as of yet, not been able to identify the other Japanese prints from which Bracquemond borrowed or was inspired for the other flower and bird images not found in Hokusai’s Manga.
15 Jean d’Albis, ‘Compilation de lettres de Bracquemond’, B34 12/06/74, typescript, private collection, Paris.
16 Tarif des porcelaines et des faience de Haviland & Co, op. cit, p. 20. That catalogue refers to the Fleurs et oiseaux japonais décor as ‘decors fleurs & oiseaux jetes.’
17 One of Bracquemond’s etchings (Beraldi 666), is titled in the print 123 Oiseaux Japonais. Others (Beraldi 667-668) are titled in the prints 123 oiseaux et fleurs japonais. Still others (Beraldi 669-672), are titled in the prints 123 Fleurs & Oiseaux Japonais.
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