Striking Art Nouveau Pair Of Majolica Vases W/ Poppies & Dragon Handles - 10¾"

This vibrant pair of petite majolica vases presents lobed, globular bodies in a deep cranberry red glaze, each fronted by a bold poppy blossom modeled in high relief with ruffled yellow petals and veined green leaves. Twin dragon-form handles rise from the shoulders, their scaly, serpentine bodies worked with crisp molded detail in a stony gray glaze; the interiors are washed in pale aqua. Likely Northern France or Belgium, circa 1900, the bases carry an indecipherable signature and the impressed model number 195. Condition is very good, with small chips to one of the flowers and minor rubbing to a few high points consistent with age. Such exuberant relief work reflects the late Victorian to early Art Nouveau taste for naturalism paired with fantastical imagery.

Northern French and Belgian potteries around 1890 to 1910 excelled in slip-modeled, polychrome majolica, often combining oversized botanical motifs with dragons and other imaginative creatures drawn from Renaissance Revival grotesques and the era’s fascination with the exotic. Pairs of vases of this type frequently formed part of a mantel garniture, intended to flank a central piece such as a larger jardiniere. Displayed as a pair on a mantel, console, or bookcase, these vases introduce striking color and texture, reading as sculptural objects even without flowers. They pair beautifully with dark wood and gilt when aiming for an intense and dramatic effect. They also work well in neutral or modern spaces, where they can stand out as bold statement pieces, adding character, texture, and a sense of artistry.

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Each measures approx. 10¾" high x 9¾" wide x 7½"
Each measures approx. 27cm high x 25cm wide x 19cm