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
Unless otherwise stated, the ceramics illustrated in this article are porcelain, designed by Félix Bracquemond (1833-1914) and produced by Haviland and Company. All are in private collections and were photographed by John Sunkiskis.
1 Treize grâces japonaises by Félix Bracquemond, c. 1870. Etching, 30.5 x 37.3 cm. Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris
2 Various pieces in the Service figures et accessoires japonais, c. 1876. Ht of coffeepot 23 cm
3 Service figures et accessoires japonais dessert plate and soup bowl, c. 1876. Diam. of plate 18.5 cm, diam. of soup bowl, 22.8 cm. The geisha figure with the open parasol can be seen in reverse in the corresponding etching Treize grâces japonaises (Fig. 1), and also in a Hokusai woodcut, where it is not reversed (Fig. 5)
4 Manga by Katushika Hokusai (1760-1849), 1804. Woodcut, 23 x 16 cm. The table motif in the bottom row can be seen in Bracquemond’s version on the porcelain dessert plate in Figure 3. Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University Library
5 Gashiki by Katushika Hokusai (1760-1849), 1819. Woodcut, 23 x 32 cm. Marquand Library of Art and Archaeology, Princeton University Library
6 Service figures et accessoires japonais dessert plates, c. 1876.Diam. of each 18.5 cm
7 Various pieces in the Service fleurs et oiseaux jetés, c. 1876. Luncheon plate: diam. 22 cm
8 123 Oiseaux & fleurs japonais by Félix Bracquemond (1833-1914), c. 1874 (rotated by 90 degrees for comparison with Figure 9). Etching, 32.5 x 49.8 cm. S.P. Avery Collection, The New York Public Library
9 Service fleurs et oiseaux jetés luncheon plate, c. 1876. Diam. 22 cm. The motif of the bird and lily can be seen at top left in the etching
in Figure 8
10 Two Service fleurs et oiseaux jetés luncheon plates, c. 1876. Diam. of each 22 cm
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