Vallauris - Création A. Forlay - 瓶 - 裸体人像陶瓷瓶 - 陶瓷

Création A. Forlay, Vallauris – Mid-Century Figural Ceramic Bottle

No reserve price

A wonderfully unusual and highly decorative mid-century ceramic bottle from Vallauris, France, bearing the impressed mark “Création A. Forlay – Vallauris” to the underside.

The bottle takes the form of a voluptuous female figure emerging from large stylised green leaves. With her dramatically raised arm, exaggerated curves and expressive pose, the design has a distinctly playful and sensual character, characteristic of the more exuberant side of post-war Vallauris ceramics.

The piece is particularly striking for its rich palette and glossy flowing glazes. Warm shades of brown model the figure, while intense emerald green and vivid yellow create bold contrasts and give the sculpture an unmistakable Mediterranean mid-century appearance. The natural variations and movement of the glaze further emphasise its artisanal character.

More than simply a decorative sculpture, the figure is in fact a functional ceramic bottle. The opening is cleverly concealed beneath the floral headdress, which forms the original ceramic stopper and retains its original cork. The stopper remains functional, allowing the piece to be used as an unusual decanter or vessel for liquids if desired.

With its combination of sensual and erotic figuration, vivid Vallauris glazing and functional design, this is a particularly curious and characterful object that should appeal to collectors of French mid-century ceramics, figural bottles and unconventional decorative art. It works equally well as a functional object, a sculptural figurine or simply an eye-catching conversation piece.

The bottle stands approximately 27–28 cm high and remains in very good vintage condition. Importantly, the original ceramic stopper with its cork is still present and functional.

Historical note: Vallauris occupies a particularly important place in the history of French ceramics. With a pottery tradition extending back for centuries, the town experienced an extraordinary artistic revival after the Second World War and entered its celebrated golden age during the 1950s. Pablo Picasso’s work in Vallauris from the late 1940s helped bring international attention to the town, which became a thriving centre for modern ceramics, attracting artists, designers and numerous independent workshops. During this remarkable period, traditional functional pottery evolved into increasingly expressive, colourful and sculptural forms. Pieces such as this figural bottle belong to that distinctive post-war tradition, when everyday ceramic objects could become playful works of decorative art. Today, mid-century Vallauris ceramics represent a fascinating chapter of French decorative-art heritage, appreciated by collectors for their bold forms, experimental glazes and unmistakable Mediterranean character.