French Barbotine Majolica Leaf Dish, Late 19th C.

France, circa 1880.

A finely modeled French Barbotine dish, formed in a naturalistic leaf shape and finished in a richly variegated glaze of oxblood, moss green, and warm ochre.

The surface is particularly compelling—an intricate network of pooled and broken glaze that settles into the relief, creating a depth and tonal variation characteristic of late 19th-century French ceramic production. The result is tactile and painterly, with subtle shifts in color across the form.

Barbotine ceramics of this period were celebrated for their expressive approach to nature, translating organic forms into functional objects with a distinctly sculptural quality.

Sourced at Chatou.

Because every good room needs a past.