Description

Antique French cafè au lait bowl earthenware stencil and sponge decoration with children, Choisy Le Roi, antique French cafè au lait bowls.

DESCRIPTION:
Wonderful and rare antique French cafè au lait bowl with a very uncommon decoration featuring children or villagers playing, the decoration has been made using stencils and sponges, the result is a very interesting effect! The bowl has a milk white base and decoration is in tones of brown, black, yellow and green. This antique French bowl has the mark of Choisy Le Roi, one of the most important manufactures in France during XIX° and early XX° centuries.

SOME HISTORY:
Faience pottery was first produced in Choisy-le-Roi in 1804. By 1836, the factory came under the management of Louis Boulenger who was succeeded in 1863 by his son Hippolyte Boulenger. By that time, the factory employed some three hundred skilled workers operating four kilns. A large number of majolica designs were added to production in the early 1860s and continued until 1910.

At the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war, Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by Germany. Sarreguemines, Choisy-le-Roi’s primary competitor in majolica production, became German territory. A number of Sarreguemines workers rejected German nationality and brought important technical skills and artistry to Choisy-le-Roi. Thereafter, Boulenger was producing the finest majolica in France and received acclaim at the Paris Exhibition of 1878 and other international exhibitions.

HOW TO USE IT:
A wonderful addition to your collection of antique French cafè au lait bowls, this charming antique bowl would surely be an outstanding piece and would enhance your collection! I love the antique French bowls; they have so many different patterns and aging gives them so amazing tea-stained effects! I am never tired of searching for them, I enjoy playing with them and mix the different patterns matching their colors….

CONDITION:
This antique cafè au lait bowl has 2 very small and very old chips to the edge, there are also 2 very thin and short hairlines to the edge. The bowl has age patina with signs of use in its interior. This gorgeous French bowl has all the charme of antique French earthenware, it will immediately bring to you the atmosphere of an antique French Kitchen in the countryside!

MEASURES:
Diameter of the antique bowl is 5 1/2″ (14 cm) wide, 3 1/8″ (8 cm) tall.