Pair of Art Nouveau Vases By The Royal Dux Bohemia Manufacture

Pair of two-coveted baluster vases. Décor of flowers and feminine faces. Art nouveau period work. In polychrome porcelain and gilded highlights. Brand on the reverse of the manufacture royal dux. Numbered 5296. Small crack on one of the vases; some shortcomings in polychromy. Diameter of the collar: 4 cm. Founded in dux (bohemian city near prague) in 1853, before moving to berlin in 1898, the royal dux manufacture was distinguished at the beginning of the twentieth century by its production of art nouveau style. Initially the factory made utilitarian objects. It was bought by the artist eduard eichler, and it then produced decorative pieces of high quality: vases, figurines, often female subjects in floral decorations. This change in production marked the beginning of its prosperity. Part of its success can be attributed to a modeler-decorator, alois hampell. The many objects of art nouveau spirit illustrated various themes, but the feminine subjects held a preponderant place: women languid on shells, representations inspired by the orient, or illustrations of crafts. The production of this manufacture was part of a long tradition of craftsmanship and quality of porcelain. It was characterized by a porcelain left in the form of a biscuit, golden or painted in milky shades (the color green was widely used). From the end of the nineteenth century, the manufacture was rewarded: it obtained a silver medal at the universal exhibition in paris in 1878, six years later the grand prix of that of saint-louis, and in 1906 a silver medal at that of milan. Royal dux enjoyed its heyday at the beginning of the twentieth century, especially in france. Although it has ceased to be produced, it still has many admirers today.

Ref. : XYF8Q9C6