Vase - Ceramic

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

Magnificent antique vase by the Belgian ceramicist Gustave De Bruyn (1881–1947), active in Fives-Lille (France). This vase was produced in the period 1920–1935 and is a nice example of his work in the transition from Art Nouveau to Art Deco.

Height: 29 cm
Width: 12 cm
Weight: 1587 g

Decor: floral motifs in relief, with glossy multicolored glaze
Marks on the bottom: casting number 4414 and studio mark
Good condition, without cracks, chips or any other possible defects.

The De Bruyn Faïencerie
An iconic earthenware factory from Fives-Lille
The De Bruyn earthenware factory, located in Fives-Lille in the north of France, is one of the leading manufacturers of French pottery production at the end of the nineteenth century. Founded by Antoine Gustave De Bruyn, a ceramicist of Belgian origin born in Leuven, it settled in Lille in 1864 and soon developed significantly.
At that time, Fives was an industrial center in full expansion, providing a favorable environment for large-scale production. The De Bruyn earthenware factory employed up to several hundred workers and specialized in the production of decorative and everyday earthenware.
A distinctive production: barbotine and natural decorations
The reputation of De Bruyn rests largely on its production of barbotine, a technique in which liquid clay paste is used to create relief decorations.
From the 1880s, the factory developed a wide range of products:
* zoomorphic or anthropomorphic jugs
* vases and plant stands with floral decoration
* garden pots and decorative objects
These pieces, often colorful and expressive, fit completely within the Art Nouveau movement, with motifs inspired by nature and organic forms.
An industrial history marked by market developments
After strong growth at the end of the nineteenth century, the earthenware factory De Bruyn experienced the economic developments of the twentieth century.
The company remained active until mid-century, before it was taken over in 1950 and then finally ceased its activities in 1962.
This disappearance today explains 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 label "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 the material as relief, especially on the barbotine pieces, and are sometimes supplemented with the inscription MADE IN FRANCE.