La Céramique Montoise (CM Bergen) - Vase - Shape 479, Decor 156 - Earthenware - ART DECO MATTE FINISH

This vase with a striking presence is a creation of La Céramique Montoise, a Belgian pottery manufacturer based in Mons, also known as CM Bergen. It bears form number 479 and features the décor referenced 156, executed with a matte finish.

Its generous silhouette, with rounded shoulders and a short, slightly flared neck, is fully in line with the decorative vocabulary of the interwar period.

The decoration is distinguished by a stylized botanical composition with deliberately irregular outlines, characteristic of the Art Deco ornamental language.

On an ivory-tinged cream background unfold broad floral and foliate motifs in a contrasted palette combining yellow, cobalt blue, turquoise, reddish-brown, green, and black. The motifs are outlined with dark traces that structure the composition and emphasize its graphic character. The upper and lower sections are set off by brown-black reserves, which harmoniously frame the polychrome decoration. The matte finish gives the whole piece a distinctive texture and enhances the depth of the colors.

The piece is in strictly as-new condition, with no chips, cracks, or restorations observed. The surface retains its original matte finish and the colors show a fresh, vivid appearance. The vase stands 21 cm high with a maximum width of 20 cm. Its top opening has a diameter of 8.8 cm and its base a diameter of 12.2 cm. Its weight is 1,500 grams.

La Céramique Montoise is part of the development of Belgian ceramic production in the early 20th century, at a time when regional manufactories were exploring new decorative languages under the influence of Art Nouveau and then Art Deco movements. The house is notably associated with Antoine Dubois, whose name is sometimes mentioned in the history of this Mons-based production. This piece exemplifies particularly well the interwar aesthetic, where the stylization of natural forms, chromatic contrasts, and distinctive finishes contributed to the renewal of Belgian decorative arts.