Theodore Deck – Paire of vase in the shape of albarelli

Theodore Deck (1823-1891).
Albarelli or albarelle.
Earthenware and colored enamels.
Paris, circa 1855-1860.

The technique used for this type of vase is the great innovation of Deck, to which he owes his first success in Paris after the opening of his factory in 1856. Indeed, thanks to the use of a relief mold and the inlaying of fine colored paste patterns in a white paste, he obtained a ceramic whose style is close to the productions of Saint-Porchaire in the 16th century.

In this spirit, this vase takes the form of the pharmacy pot originally designed to contain spices and jams, then used to store solid drugs, ointments and dried medicinal plants of the apothecaries during the Renaissance.
The technique used by Saint-Porchaire in the sixteenth century was not well known at the time and Theodore Deck's earthenware is characterized by its interpretation of ancient techniques. He was awarded the Grand Prix at the 1878 World's Fair and his growing fame led to him being asked to take the direction of the Manufacture de Sèvres from 1887.
A similar model is exhibited at the Musée Théodore Deck, Guebwiller, under the inventory number MF112.