Exceptional Pair of Framed Art Nouveau Ceramic Plaques after Mucha - 24¾" x 25¼"

An exceptional pair of Art Nouveau painted ceramic portrait plaques after Alphonse Mucha's celebrated Têtes Byzantines (Byzantine Heads) series, depicting La Blonde (The Blonde) and La Brune (The Brunette), and signed Gosselin Journaud, France, circa 1900. Each circular faïence roundel presents one of Mucha's iconic female profiles surrounded by richly ornamented borders that blend mythical Byzantine imagery with the flowing lines and decorative sophistication of Art Nouveau. Adorned with jeweled headdresses, flowing hair, and radiant halo-like motifs, the figures embody the dreamlike femininity and poetic elegance that define Mucha's work. Their refined palette of celadon, dusty rose, soft blue, cream, gilt, and warm golden tones enhances their ethereal presence and jewel-like decorative appeal. 

The plaques are housed in substantial walnut frames engraved with stylized Art Nouveau foliage that closely echoes the scrolling ornament of the ceramic borders. The broad, deeply molded frames contribute significantly to the decorative effect, extending the compositions beyond the roundels themselves and giving the pair a strong presence on the wall. Together, frame and plaque form a remarkably harmonious Art Nouveau ensemble.

The frames show minor age-related wear, including small veneer losses, slight opening at a few mitred joints, and light surface wear, all consistent with age and none of which detract from their overall presentation. 

Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) was a Czech artist and designer whose work became synonymous with the Art Nouveau movement. Rising to fame in Paris in the 1890s through his celebrated posters for actress Sarah Bernhardt, he developed a distinctive style characterized by idealized female figures, flowing lines, intricate ornament, and richly decorative compositions. Such was the popularity of his imagery that it quickly transcended the world of printmaking, inspiring interpretations across a wide range of media including ceramics, stained glass, jewelry, furniture, textiles, and decorative panels. This pair of ceramic plaques is a beautiful example of the way Mucha's designs were adapted for the domestic interior during the Belle Époque. His imagery profoundly influenced the decorative arts of the period and remains among the most recognizable and enduring expressions of Art Nouveau.