Circa 1905 Frédéric Danton Art Nouveau Handled Ceramic Vase

A show stopper of a vase with wonderful coloration and iridescence that pays homage to the dreamy naturalism inherent to symbolist motifs at the time. This large Danton vase features fluttering butterflies beating their wings above an undulating and intricate electric background on all sides. The artisan here has gone one step further to smartly incorporate the five organic handles around the base in the butterfly motif. Three of the handles have the painted thorax of a butterfly, while the wings and remainder extend to the surface of the vase. This gives the butterflies around the base a three-dimensional quality; Massier and Levy used the same technique of incorporating design on vase handles in their rendition other natural objects (see here for another example from Massier: http://www.jasonjacques.com/artworks/clment-massier/magical-mushroom-mac180/#1 ). The Danton vase rim is pentagonal and and coincides with each of the five handles near the base.

Fully stamped "Frédéric Danton, Got-Barbat, Aubusson, Creuse" and additionally painted underneath with "A.S.B., Got Barbat, Limoges."

Dimensions: 8.85”(H) x 7.88”(D)

Most of the "reflet métallique d'époque art nouveau" vases that I have seen have a "sweet spot" where the iridescence is at it's maximal quality, but this one sparkles all around. I've enjoyed rotating this one almost daily to get a new view.

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Frédéric Danton was born in 1874 in Aubusson and was employed at the Aubusson factory where he designed high-quality floral tapestries. A man of many talents and interests, he founded a small ceramics atelier in the village of Got-Barbat, circa 1900. While not a ceramists himself, Danton had the wisdom and business savvy to employ skilled artisans from the region to produce small editions of beautiful lusterware in the style of Clément Massier. Using moulds and glaze formulas obtained from Massier, he produced lusterware that closely resembled Massier’s work with Lévy-Dhurmer. The ubiquitous "A.S.B." on the bottom of the Danton wares may reference one of the skilled artisans, though its true meaning is still a mystery.

Danton was very active in French civic affairs, serving as the vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of Creuse. In addition, he took an avid interest in aviation, designing and piloting airplanes that might be best described as early flying machines. Truly one of the more interesting characters of the Art Nouveau ceramics movement.