Large Delphin Massier Vallauris Art Nouveau irridescent lustre Poppy vase c1900

Condition: Overall good condition, but the vase was converted to a lamp in the past. Traces of the lamp fitting including a drilled hole in the base, a metal tube in the neck and some plaster remains inside the poppy-seed head.  There are some minor scratches inside the neck, and some tiny pin-head sized nicks in the glaze on the outside. On the underside of the  neck, there is a line which looks at first like a fine crack, not easily seen, but I am certain from close inspection that it is a firing crack in the glaze.

Although its former life as a lamp has compromised this piece slightly, it is still a superb piece of Art Nouveau ceramic work which also displays very well.  

Delphin Massier (1836-1907) came to Vallauris in Southern France with his younger brother Clement in 1883, and both ran successful art pottery businesses. Clement developed the metallic lustre techniques which were adopted towards the end of the 19th century by Delphin.  Delphin tended to give his lustre ware more organic forms, beautifully exemplified in the piece.

The vase is marked on the base with Delphin's usual painted signature Delphin Massier Vallauris A.M.