Views of Europe · 19th century
€ 450
One of a kind: this is the sheet in the photographs. Ships from Langweer, the Netherlands.
Condition report: Good impression with strong color preservation. General age-related toning and occasional foxing to margins. Blank verso.
Antique Lithograph of Italian Faience Aiguière, Gustave de Rothschild Collection, 1869
This large-format color lithograph presents a richly decorated Italian faience 'aiguière' (ewer) in the grotesque style, from the celebrated collection of Baron Gustave de Rothschild in Paris. The print originates from the important publication 'Recueil de Faiences Italiennes des XVe, XVIe et XVIIe Siècles', compiled and published by Henri Delange in 1869, which documented some of the finest examples of Renaissance and Baroque Italian tin-glazed pottery.
The depicted vessel features elaborate grotesque ornamentation, including cherubic figures, scrolling foliage, and a spout shaped as a fantastical animal head, while the handle curls in serpentine form. Painted landscape scenes decorate the central body, evoking the artistic spirit of the maiolica workshops of Urbino, Faenza, and Deruta. Such vessels were admired not only for their technical brilliance but also as objects of prestige in princely collections across Europe.
Baron Gustave de Rothschild (1829–1911) was renowned for his patronage of the arts and for amassing a distinguished collection of Renaissance decorative arts. This lithograph is part of the limited edition portfolio that captured highlights of his holdings, preserving the brilliance of Italian Renaissance ceramics for scholarly and collector audiences of the 19th century.
Condition report: Good impression with strong color preservation. General age-related toning and occasional foxing to margins. Blank verso.
Framing tips: This piece will benefit from presentation in a wide ivory or cream mount to emphasize the vibrancy of the grotesque decoration. A gilt or dark wood frame will enhance its historical character, while double matting with a subtle green or terracotta inner line may echo the rich ceramic tones and highlight its Renaissance charm.
Technique: Color lithograph
Maker: Henri Delange, Paris, 1869
