Vase - Ceramic - Gustave De Bruyn

Gustave De Bruyn (Leuven 1838- Lille 1916) vase from Fives Lille. Model 4340 with daisies and edelweiss deco. The vase bears the signature of De Bruyn on the bottom. Gustave De Bruyn patented in 1885 the lead-free enamel coating with superior quality, awarded with the Silver Medal at the Paris World Exhibition in 1889.

Height 32.5 cm, Width 19.5 cm, Diameter 15.5 cm.
Weight: 1206 g
Excellent condition, no chips, cracks or scratches.

The De Bruyn Faience Factory
An iconic pottery factory from Fives-Lille
The De Bruyn pottery factory, located in Fives-Lille in the north of France, is one of the leading manufacturers of French ceramic production at the end of the nineteenth century. Founded by Antoine Gustave De Bruyn, a potter of Belgian origin who was born in Leuven, it established itself in Lille in 1864 and soon enjoyed important growth.
At that time, Fives was an industrial center in full expansion, offering a favorable environment for large-scale production. The De Bruyn pottery factory employed up to several hundred workers and specialized in the production of decorative and utilitarian earthenware.
A characteristic production: slip-cast (barbotine) and natural decorations
The reputation of De Bruyn rests largely on its production of barbotine, a technique using fluid clay paste to create relief decorations.
From the 1880s, the factory developed a wide range of products:
* zoomorphic or anthropomorphic jugs
* vases and pots with floral decorations
* garden planters and decorative objects
These pieces, often colorful and expressive, fit squarely within the Art Nouveau movement, with motifs inspired by nature and organic forms.
An industrial history marked by market developments
After strong growth toward the end of the nineteenth century, the De Bruyn pottery factory experienced the economic developments of the twentieth century.
The company remained active until mid-century, before being taken over in 1950 and then definitively ceased its activities in 1962.
This disappearance explains today why these pieces are found exclusively on the antique market and among collectors.

Signatures and identification of De Bruyn ceramics
De Bruyn pieces are usually marked under the base, with several variants per period:
* the inscription "Fives-Lille"
* the signature "De Bruyn" or "G. De Bruyn"
* relief stamp with initials or symbol (The De Bruyn logo is a D woven into a B, in the middle of an anchor)
* accompanying model number
Some signatures may appear in relief in the material, especially on barbotine pieces, and are sometimes accompanied by the inscription MADE IN FRANCE.