(French, 1865-1953; 1844-1917)

Seahorse, circa 1887-1896, stamped "L Levy", "Clement/Massier", "Golfe/Juan", "A.M", glazed earthenware, 13-1/4 in.

Note: In 1879 Lucien Lévy, aged 14 and probably living with his parents, began studying lithography, porcelain decoration, ceramics, design, drawing, and sculpture at the Ecole Supérieure de Dessin et de Sculpture in Paris. Only three years later, he showed a small porcelain plaque depicting the Birth of Venus in the highly academic style of Alexandre Cabanel; he continued his independent career in design until 1887, when he became Clément Massier's artistic director. How the two men came together is not known. During his time in Golfe Juan with Massier, Lévy-Dhurmer found the time to paint. In the same year that he achieved recognition at the Salon des Artistes Français, he left for Paris to begin a career in painting. At around this time he also visited Italy and was influenced by art of the Renaissance.

crazing throughout, a few very small chips/flakes to glaze, very light spotting towards base of vessel, possibly accretion, mild scratching, wear to base consistent with age and use, interior dusty