A rare pair of powder blue vases

An extremely rare pair of powder blue vases by Jules-Claude Ziegler, the fluted powder blue bodies profusely decorated with entwined ivy leaves and fruit, beautifully sculpted with shaped lotus styled rim above a slender waist on fecund bodies, expressing a classical form with the asymmetry of nature. Ivy has been a prominent decorative motif across various ancient cultures, including Egyptian, Etruscan, Greek, and Roman art. Used alongside other plants like the vine and lotus, ivy's lush foliage adorned Egyptian columns and was frequently depicted on vases and drinking vessels across these civilizations. In the 18th and 19th century it became associated with fidelity and loyalty, a symbol of nature and abundance.

Jules-Claude Ziegler (1804–1856) was a multifaceted French artist whose work spanned painting, sculpture, and ceramics. A student of the renowned Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Ziegler brought a painter’s eye to all his creations, blending technical precision with artistic innovation. His contributions to the development of ceramics were particularly groundbreaking, as he experimented with glazes and forms to elevate functional objects into works of art. Ziegler’s legacy endures as a symbol of 19th-century creativity, where tradition met bold experimentation.

Works by Zeigler can be found in the British Museum and the V&A Museum and other museums around the world