Antique set of rectangular dish and soup tureen – Mouzin-Lecat & Cie

Here is a set as rare as it is elegant, carefully found: a rectangular dish and its matching soup tureen with lid, both in fine ivory earthenware, decorated with a sumptuous floral motif in deep navy blue, butterflies, dragonflies and stylized foliage unfold poetically in a delicately naturalistic composition. Produced by the Mouzin-Lecat & Cie factory, active in Nimy (Belgium) between the mid-19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, these pieces are part of the great tradition of iron earth inspired by English productions. The decoration, printed underglaze, evokes the finesse of old botanical plates with an almost Japanese elegance. The Mouzin-Lecat & Cie factory, located in Nimy (Belgium), is one of the most important Belgian earthenware factories of the 19th century. Founded at the end of the 18th century, it adopted the name Mouzin-Lecat from 1880. Recognized for the quality of its iron clay, its printed decorations and its shapes inspired by the art of the English table, it was active until its merger with Boch Frères. The soup tureen has a rare and graphic shape: rectangular with integrated handles, topped with its original lid, also decorated with the same decoration. The matching dish can be used as a support or be used independently for serving or presentation. Stamped under the tray and under the soup tureen: Mouzin-Lecat & Cie, Nimy Belguim. Good condition for its age, patina of time: the lid of the soup tureen has a fairly significant chip inside and a crack. The tray also has cracks (perhaps it has been repaired?). See photos. Good dimensions: tray length 37 cm, width 30 cm, height 2 cm; soup tureen length 37 cm, height 22 cm and without the lid height 15 cm.