Montjoye (attr.) - Vase - Edelweiss and relief enamel - ca. 1900 - Glass, Enamel

Legras & Cie. – Montjoye – Large Art Nouveau vase with edelweiss and relief enamel – circa 1900

Description
Exceptionally beautiful and richly decorated French Art Nouveau vase, attributed to Legras & Cie., Verreries de Saint-Denis – Montjoye, circa 1895–1905.

This large vase, 35.5 cm tall, has an elegant, strongly flaring form and is made of glass with a softly satin-matte background. On it lies an exceptionally well-crafted and pronounced naturalistic floral decoration.

Centered are several edelweiss flowers, rendered in thick, plastically white and yellow relief enamel. The flowers are almost three-dimensionally constructed and are surrounded by fine pink and green vegetation and graceful Lily of the Valley. Long gilded stems and numerous fine gold accents run through the composition and enhance the luxurious character.
What is particularly beautiful is the contrast between the restrained matte background and the glossy, strongly raised enamel. Depending on the light, the floral decoration literally pops off the glass.

The combination of matte glass, naturalistic floral motifs, heavily polychrome relief enamel, and gilding closely aligns with the lux Montjoye works of Legras & Cie. around 1900.

The vase is unsigned. Unmarked examples occur within the historical production of Legras/Montjoye; the attribution here is based on form, material, decoration technique and stylistic similarities with documented works.
An especially attractive Art Nouveau object, not only because of its large size but also due to the very rich execution of the edelweiss decoration in high relief.

Dimensions
Height: 35.5 cm
Diameter at the top: 9.5 cm
Weight: 434 g

Condition
Very nice antique state. The extensive relief decoration presents itself particularly well. There is light, localized aging wear to the gilding and the matte background, appropriate to the age and visible in the photos. No signature found.

Carefully packed and shipped