“Demoiselle and Damoiseau d’Avignon” Pair of Ottoman Earthenware Ewers From the Late 19th Century - 15¾"

A sculptural pair of emerald-green glazed earthenware ewers from Turkey, 19th century, known collectively as the Demoiselles d’Avignon. Traditionally, these vessels were produced in two distinct silhouettes, one referred to as the damoiseau (male) and the other as the demoiselle (female), a distinction reflected in both scale and spout form. The damoiseau is typically larger and fitted with a tubular pouring spout, while the more slender demoiselle features a beak-like spout, lending each vessel its own character.

Both examples have rounded bodies rising to slender necks, each set with a braided handle and enriched with applied rosettes and leafy bosses. The pair shows small chips, minor glaze losses, and scattered surface wear, all consistent with age and use and contributing to their authentic antique character. 

The vivid glaze and expressive form are characteristic of wares produced in Çanakkale, where such vessels were filled with rose essence or raki (a traditional anise-flavored alcoholic spirit) and shipped across the Mediterranean to Marseille. Once in Provence, they were often kept and repurposed as table pitchers, becoming popular decorative and functional objects in southern France, particularly around Avignon, which gave rise to their enduring nickname.

Striking as a paired vignette on a console or mantel, they bring a lively note of color and folklore to a kitchen dresser, garden room, or dining area. Use them as sculptural accents or as vessels for dried stems, olive branches, or grasses. The glossy green and tactile relief details play beautifully against natural stone, limewashed walls, and patinated metals. Their gentle asymmetry and age-softened surfaces lend warmth and authenticity to both contemporary and traditional interiors. 

Condition and patina consistent with age.
Bigger one is 15¾" high x 7" diameter. Smaller one is 14½" high x 6" diameter
Bigger one is 40cm high x 18cm diameter. Smaller one is 37cm high x 15cm diameter