Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse for Minton, “Nymph holding an amphora”, glazed and polychrome ceramic.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (France, 1824-1887) for the English manufacturer Minton. “Nymph holding an amphora”, 1874. Glazed and polychrome majolica. The nymph dressed in a modest veil holds a cobalt blue amphora with a Greek frieze in her hands. She is sitting on a wicker basket from which bunches of grapes fall. Signed “A. Carrier” on the base. Stamped in paste on the bottom “Minton” and numbered “1760”, “S” and “D”, as well as a reverse arrow. These symbols indicate a dating of the artefact close to 1874. After a modest but promising start to his career at the Salon of 1850, Albert Carrier-Belleuse crossed the Channel to collaborate within the Minton Manufacture at the invitation of the artistic director, Léon Arnoux. His recruitment is part of the British government's political desire to promote the domestic industry, even if the artists come from neighboring countries. Carrier-Belleuse's first work, "The Fountain of Galatea", was presented at the Crystal Palace in 1851 and received widespread public acclaim. Thanks to the research of Arnoux who "developed a modern majolica launched by Herbert Minton in 1851" (Gilles Grandjean, "Carrier-Belleuse. Le maître de Rodin", 2014, p. 21-22), Carrier-Belleuse modernized ornamental sculpture. His work at Minton continued until 1880. He then worked for the Sèvres Manufactory, which was happy to welcome a talent capable of organizing such a large workshop.

Excellent state of conservation. Upon careful analysis, no restorations, remakes or additions to the color scheme can be seen.

Provenance: Mantua, Private Collection.

Certification is issued in accordance with the law regarding the authenticity and lawful origin of the work.