Antique European Art Nouveau Majolica Jardiniere. This magnificent planter/cachepot has a painted design to resemble a light gradient along the bottom middle sides, surrounded by brown architectural and pink floral shapes. Likely crafted in France, Belgium, or Bohemia around 1900 during the height of the Art Nouveau movement, the interior is a rich sea green, with the underside marked "9553," "68," and initialed "E.S." between the four sturdy short feet it rests upon. 

Size: 7 x 12 x 5 1/2 in. 

Majolica, also known as Maiolica, is a type of tin-glazed pottery that is decorated with colors on a white background. The name comes from Majorca, the largest Balearic Island in the Mediterranean, where the first pieces of majolica were made in the 15th Century. During the 17th Century the English added the letter j to their alphabet, and Maiolica thereafter was commonly anglicized to Majolica. The technique originated in the Middle East with the ancient Assyrians as an imitation of Chinese porcelain. The Moors later brought the technique to Spain across Gibraltar, and it eventually became a part of Italian ceramic tradition dating back to the mid-1300s.

All items are sold AS IS. Lot and condition details are for descriptive purposes only. Sarasota Estate Auction is not responsible for errors and/or omissions of condition. The absence of a condition report does not imply that the lot is perfect or free from wear, flaws, or characteristics of age. Please bid according to your own expertise, or request any additional information and/or photographs you deem necessary.