EUGENE FEUILLATRE – VASE, CIRCA 1900

VASE, CIRCA 1900
Silver with an enamelled decor of wisteria flowers; gilt bronze mount attributed to Keller Frères
Signed
32 cm. high

After heading René Lalique’s enamelling atelier for seven years and working a short while for Lucien Falize, he establishes himself
in 1898 and starts exhibiting at major events. International recognition, prizes and praise soon followed.
As early as 1898, his exhibit at the New Gallery in London was completely sold out, all the pieces were acquired by museums
and English amateurs. The same year the French state acquires a vase and continued to do so the following years.
Museums all over Europe and as far as Japan bought his designs. He was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelle in 1900.
His production includes jewellery and objets d’art in either translucent enamels or enamels applied to gold, silver or copper.
His early palette of colours centers on subdued and pale greens, blues and lilac yet turned more vivid and colourful after 1904.
His shapes are classic and elegant not overwhelmingly and freely organic. Just like his mentor Lalique, he drew his inspiration from
animals (peacocks, swans, swallows, hippocampus and other fishes, butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, snakes, bats and scarabs)
and nature with a predilection for the plants and flowers in vogue (thistles, lillies, wisterias, poppies, mimosa, eucalyptus,
chrysanthemums, umbels, honesty leaves) and mythology (Ophelia, Juno). He died in 1916 fighting for his country in World War One.