LEGRAS (1839-1916) – MONTJOYE - Vase - Rare “Mérovée” boule vase on a “Violettine Carmino” ground, decorated with magnificent enamelled - mouth-blown glass

Circa 1890 – Legras/Montjoye Cristallerie, Saint-Denis, France – Art Nouveau period.

Splendid rare boule-shaped collectible vase, from the delightful model “Thais Jardinère Ball,” also called Merovée vase, featuring a magnificent generously swollen spherical form, crowned by a spectacular polylobed neck hot-worked with a tool, whose deep undulations, delicately outlined in gold, evoke the petals of a majestic flower just blossoming.

Made of blown glass, this wonderful creation by François-Théodore Legras reveals an extraordinary ground gradient of the famous “Violettine Carmino,” mass-dyed, whose sumptuous nuances of amethyst violet, purple and deep plum progressively lighten toward the base until they become almost crystalline.

A magnificent play of transparency and light that gives this precious little glassware a depth and brightness absolutely fascinating.

Upon this entrancing background blooms a lovely panoramic decor of four magnificent anemones, depicted at different stages of bloom, delicately painted and hand-fired enamelled, in a floral composition of great finesse and remarkable poetry.

The flowers seem to awaken one after another, unveiling their delicate corollas with silky petals, subtly shaded of opaline white, powder pink, soft mauve and old rose, delicately shaded with purplish and rosy-brown touches.

Their hearts, a deep black, contrast wonderfully with the almost nacreous softness of the petals, while fine gold outlines gently emphasize each flower, as if a thread of gold had been laid around their fragile corollas.

At their feet entwines a superb emerald-green foliage, with long gracefully curved stems and deeply lobed leaves, whose finely drawn veins attest to remarkable attention to detail.

The flowers and their foliage unfold harmoniously all around the belly, forming a true little garden of anemones imprisoned in the glass, which reveals itself gradually as one turns the vase.

Depending on the light and the angle from which it is viewed, the violet tones flare up, the transparencies illuminate, and the flowers seem almost to come to life, offering a constantly renewed spectacle.

Remarkable work of high quality, characteristic of the Legras ateliers’ know-how at the end of the 19th century, with generous enamel, delicately molded in relief, with subtle color nuances and precious gold highlights.

A true demonstration of artistic and technical mastery, where the richness of the enamelling, the delicacy of the drawing and the extraordinary luminosity of the glass unite in perfect harmony.

The spectacular polylobed neck, hot-worked with great freedom of movement, adds an almost sculptural elegance to the whole and gives this little marvel all the grace and whimsy of the finest Art Nouveau creations.

The series of “Thais Jardinère Ball” vases is listed in the famous reference work Legras Verrier, by Michel and Vitrat, devoted to the finest creations of this great French glass master of the late 19th century.

Beautiful height of 123 mm with a generous neck opening of 120 mm and a handsome volume with a circumference of 345 mm!

Magnificent proportions for this ball vase with generous volume, whose flaring shape, majestically undulating neck and sumptuous colors confer a remarkable decorative presence.

A sublime little glass art piece, precious and full of poetry, in which François-Théodore Legras seems to have captured a moment of eternal spring, imprisoning in the transparency of the glass the light, colors and fragile beauty of four blooming anemones.

A true marvel of late 19th-century French glassmaking, testimony to exceptional know-how, which will surely delight the most demanding collectors and lovers of the most beautiful floral Art Nouveau creations.

Vase in very good condition for its great age (over 135 years!).
Note: just a few light traces of wear to the gilding due to the passage of time, perfectly coherent with the antiquity of this over-a-century-old piece!

A very beautiful collectible glassware piece, in which François-Théodore Legras seems to have imprisoned in the glass the light and the fragile beauty of magnificent blooming anemones.

Under the base you can see a pretty trace of the pontil from the blowing rod, cut with tongs, a moving testimony to the old manufacturing techniques and the remarkable artisanal know-how of the Saint-Denis glassmakers.

Very beautiful Art Nouveau period piece from the Nancy School. Daum Nancy era, Gallé, Le verre Français, Schneider, Lalique...

FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN UNPAID LOTS... PLEASE DO NOT BID IF YOU ARE NOT 100% CERTAIN OF YOUR PURCHASE!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

Professional shipping is careful and secure, guaranteed with custom-made packaging and protection, with tracking and insurance. See my ratings :)