L'Herminé-Declercq - Vase - Earthenware - Double-bellied vase

This rare double-gourd vase in a gourde shape is an excellent example of the artistic majolica production from the early 20th century of the manufactory in French Orchies, under the leadership of Emile L’Herminé-Declercq. The piece embodies the essence of Art Nouveau through its organic lines and vivid, lifelike decoration. The vase is rendered in a striking turquoise that serves as a bright canvas for the hand-painted floral motif in relief.

The decorative composition is carefully aligned with the vase’s curves: the lower, voluminous belly features fully opened flowers in shades of soft pink and warm ochre yellow, framed by dark green, stylized leaves. In the upper section, this theme is subtly echoed with hanging goblet-like flowers and bold, heart-shaped leaf motifs along the rim.

About the workshop:

In 1886, Emile L’Herminé-Declercq, together with his brother Joseph, founded the well-known earthenware factory in the Northern French town of Orchies. Émilé was at that time already the owner of a factory in Belgian Rebaix and chose Orchies strategically due to its proximity to other ceramic centers such as Saint-Amand-les-Eaux. The factory initially focused on producing everyday objects and tiles but shifted from 1904 its focus toward more artistic creations, resulting in the distinctive Art Nouveau pieces recognizable by the OLD mark, an acronym for Orchies L’Herminé Declercq. After a merger in 1923, the Faïenceries du Moulin des Loups & Hamage were formed, recognizable by the windmill emblem.