Smoking set porcelain Boch Belgium Art Deco 1930

This superb and rare piece is an antique Art Deco smoking set. It has an astonishing silhouette, somewhere between a cubist sculpture and a small ziggurat. Its geometric volumes arranged in tiers, its bold lines, and its asymmetrical composition testify to the audacity of the decorative arts of the interwar period. Made of earthenware, it is dressed in a beautiful mustard yellow glaze, marked by a dense network of brown crackles. This particularly refined glossy glaze highlights the reliefs and gives the whole piece remarkable depth and presence. Probably made in the 1930s, this set is attributable to the Belgian manufacturer Boch Frères, established in La Louvière, whose Art Deco creations significantly contributed to the revival of decorative ceramics. Under the base are a sadly very worn black circular stamp and a moulded number. Their connection to known markings and references of Boch Frères provides a serious lead. Originally, the central pot topped with its tiered lid was intended for tobacco, while the side compartments housed cigarettes, matches, and other smoking accessories. Today repurposed from its original function, it will find a prominent place on a desk, console, or dressing table, to hold jewellery and small objects. A rare and unique piece, where the everyday object meets the formal explorations of cubism and Art Deco. We are as enamoured with it as we are with its earthenware. It is in excellent condition. Height: 16.5 cm. Length: 24.5 cm. Width: 11.5 cm. Weight: 1.5 kg.