Monumental Ceramic Cache Pot and Pedestal By Clement Massier - Late 19th Century - 43¼"

A triumph of Art Nouveau ceramic artistry, this monumental cache pot on pedestal exudes theatrical elegance and Provençal heritage. Attributed to the renowned Clément Massier and listed in the RMN’s definitive monograph, the piece hails from Vallauris and features the distinctive “guirlande” model, an emblem of Massier’s poetic glaze work and sculptural finesse. Crafted in richly glazed ceramic, the urn is adorned with five sculpted lion masks joined by intricate garlands, their forms emerging in high relief against a luminous background of turquoise blue tinged with rose. The glaze cascades like watercolor, capturing the light and shifting in tone with each contour.

Though unsigned, the piece is documented within Massier’s oeuvre. Clément Massier (1844–1917) was a leading figure in the celebrated Vallauris ceramic dynasty, known for pioneering iridescent glazes and infusing ceramic forms with the spirit of Art Nouveau. This piece, with its majestic scale and chromatic depth, speaks to the height of fin-de-siècle French ceramic innovation. Placed in a light-filled vestibule, beneath a sweeping staircase, or alongside an orangerie wall, the piece invites both grandeur and curiosity. Its vivid coloration can complement rich velvets, aged stone, or dark wood, while the classical lion heads and garland motif offer a dialogue with neoclassical or eclectic interiors.

Whether left empty or planted with a trailing fern or sculptural orchid, it draws the eye and anchors a space with poetic force. The two elements of the piece can also be displayed separately.