Gilbert Méténier - Sculpture, Vogel - 1920/30 - 13 cm - Ceramic

An extraordinary and decidedly charming bird jug by Gilbert Méténier (1876–after 1940), a French ceramicist whose name is closely linked to the Grès d’Art Méténier from Gannat.

Gilbert Méténier was born in 1876 in Moulins, the son of the ceramicist Louis Méténier. Father and son are already documented as ceramicists in Gannat in 1910. Gilbert continued the ceramic tradition and took over the management of the manufactory around 1920. Méténier ceramics were produced until 1940.

The Méténier works became especially famous for their expressive stoneware glazes. Iridescent effects and crystalline glazes played an important role, while natural motifs as well as plastic animal and plant forms repeatedly appear in the designs. Also zoomorphic jugs, including bird- and penguin-shaped forms, are documented in the production.

This exemplar beautifully showcases this playful side of Méténier ceramics. The vessel body transforms into a bird with a plastically modeled beak and eye, while the obliquely rising spout completes the unusual silhouette. Particularly fascinating is the vivid glaze: violet and purple tones merge into a deep blue and are contrasted by bold green accents on the beak, eye, openings, and the applied decorative elements. The finely speckled surface makes the colors appear differently depending on the incidence of light.

The piece probably dates from the 1920s to 1930s. Comparable signed Méténier bird jugs are dated around 1920; however, an exact dating of this model has not yet been established.

At the base sits the characteristic handwritten signature “G. Méténier”.

An unusual piece of French art pottery, in which Méténier playfully combines vessel and animal figure—especially appealing due to the intense violet-blue glaze with its luminous green details.

The two chips are documented in the photos.

The item is wrapped in cushioning foil and surrounded by bio-polystyrene in a double-walled carton and shipped by DHL.