Antique French Faïence Pumpkin Pot Couvert, Bleu de Chine,18th c.

A lidded tureen (pot couvert) modeled in the form of a pumpkin or autumnal gourd, with ribbed lobes following the sectioned form of the fruit and a twisted stem finial in cobalt. The decoration is in the bleu de Chine tradition: dense scrolling foliage, stylized cloud and feather forms, and fish-scale patterns covering the lobes, all painted in cobalt blue on a heavily crackled cream ground.

French or Italian late 19th century faïence chinoisante, in the tradition of Samson de Paris and Cantagalli of Florence, both of whom made high-quality reproductions of Asian and earlier European ceramics for the late 19th century collecting market. The heavy craquelure is voluntaire, deliberately fired to recreate Chinese crackle glazes.

Dimensions: 8⅝ × 5½ in.