French Art Deco Stoneware Vase: Pierrefonds, Blue Crystalline Glaze, Gourd FormIn 1903, Count Charles Henri Olivier Hallez d'Arros, also known as Olivier de Sorra, founded a ceramics factory in Pierrefondsin the Département de l’Oise in northern France, giving it the name “Faïencerie Heraldique de Pierrefonds.” The major financial backer of the new enterprise was Gustave Adolphe Clement, more commonly known as Clément Bayard(1855-1928), a prominent local businessman widely know as a manufacturer of bicycles, automobiles and aeronauticalequipment from 1878 to 1922.  The company quickly encountered financial difficulties, moved to premises owned by Clément at 3 rue Notre Dame in Pierrefonds, and was converted into a “société anonyme” in 1904, with Count OlivierHallez d’Arros no longer involved. By 1910, due to the large loans he had made to the company, Clément Bayard became the owner of Faïencerie Heraldique de Pierrefonds S.A.  The family of Clément Bayard maintained ownership of the factory after his death in 1937. The reputation of Pierrefonds stoneware today is due to the decision by Clément Bayard to recruit a skilled team of ceramic artists from the Lorraine region, headed by Emile Bouillon, to join the enterprise. Bouillon was recruited from the Pexonne faience factory and was joined by decorators Victor Dammann, Joseph Gardon, and Michel Richard. By 1937, Emile Bouillon and his five children took full ownership of the company under the name Bouillon Père et Fils. Emile Bouillon died shortly before the end of World War II on January 22, 1945. His sons Albert and René were prisoners of war at that time but returned shortly thereafter to begin the difficult task of rebuilding the factory.  They achieved success for a period of time, with René overseeing manufacturing and Albert in charge of administration. Beginning in the 1950s, Pierrefonds struggled with the retirement of experienced workers and increased competition from lower-cost ceramics and plastics. RenéBouillon left the factory in 1962 but returned later to help his brother Albert, who died in 1963. The factory remained in Bouillon family hands until it was sold in 1975 to M. Vannereau, who ultimately closed Pierrefonds in 1986.Under Emile Bouillon’s leadership, Pierrefonds evolved quickly into a leading producer of French Art Nouveau stoneware. During Coming as he did from Lorraine, Bouillon can be seen to have brought to Pierrefonds some artistic influence from the work of Alphonse Cytère (Rambervillers) and other ceramists of the École de Nancy.  Bouillon’s thirty years at the artistic helm, Pierrefonds became known for its robust forms of various shapes and sizes. While works were decorated with glazes of different hues, Pierrefonds is most closely associated today and appreciated for its blue drip glazes, often with spectacular crystalizations. While Pierrefonds’ focus on blue glazes might at first seem quite limiting, the workshop’s production demonstrates the almost infinite potential for variations on a theme.  The blues found in Pierrefonds range from very pale on backgrounds of beige and gold to very dark. Similarly, beautiful examples of both matte and very lustrous blue glazes can be found. This range of blue glazes, sometimes with very striking crystallizations, are then applied to a wide variety of classic forms, often produced in different sizes. Most Pierrefonds stoneware produced by the Bouillons bears a shopmark; in addition, many pieces also carry a model number. Few pieces carry an explicit date, although there are a few exceptions. Art Nouveau stoneware produced by the Faïencerie Heraldique de Pierrefonds under the leadership of Emile Bouillon occupies an important niche in French ceramics of the first half of the 20thcentury. Pierrefonds stoneware carrying its signature blue crystalline glazes is at once both instantly recognizable and part of the larger aesthetic trends in French ceramics during the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Like many of their contemporaries, Bouillon and his colleagues exhibited at the landmark 1925 Paris Exposition International des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.  Nearly one hundred years later, Pierrefonds and other stoneware of this period stands the test of time for its high artistic standards.This elegant vase in a double gourd form is an outstanding example of Pierrefonds stoneware circa 1920s. It carries a rich semi gloss version of Pierrefond's famous blue crystalline glaze. The glaze on this vase is dominated by glossy darker blue tones over a slightly lighter more matte finish base.  This vase is well-marked with the Pierrefonds shopmark and model number (533). The dimensions of this sleek vase are approximately 5inches high and approximately 3.5 inches wide near the base, narrowing to 1.5 inches across the mouth. This piece is in very good condition, with  a few minor glaze pops/flaws commonly found in Pierrefonds pieces of this vintage. On very close inspection, I detected a minor hairline crack starting at the mouth of the vase and extending down about 1 inch. Please see the photos for more details on condition. Please also check out my other Pierrefonds listings, all of which would nicely complement this vase.All shipping is by USPS insured Priority mail, and great care will be taken with packing this valuable piece. A flat rate shipping charge of $20 applies to this listing. Flat shipping rate applies only to U.S. buyers. International buyers will pay higher actual shipping costs and should inquire prior to bidding.About the seller: I have been collecting art pottery for more than 30 years. The bulk of my collection is Danish stoneware from the 1920s into the 1970s. The bulk of my Danish collection consists of Arne Bang, Saxbo, Jais Nielsen, Nils Thorsson, Erik Hjorth, and Ejvind Nielsen. I have done extensive research on these and other artists and workshops and would be happy to share that with interested buyers. I also have substantial collections of American, French, Belgian and other 20th century northern European art pottery. The bulk of my French/Belgian collection consists of Pierrefonds, Denbac, Charles and Pierre Greber, and Roger Guerin, with some pieces from other workshops, including Gilbert Metenier and Alphones Cytere. Over the coming months I will be listing a wide range of pieces from my collection. Please check out my other listings and add me to your list of saved sellers to receive notification of new listings.