This superb Art Nouveau pitcher dates from the early twentieth century and is signed underneath by Georges de Feure (1868-1943). Note the thickness of the glass. No chips.
Biography - translated from French text by antique glass expert Christophe Garland
Georges-Joseph van Sluÿters was born in Paris to a Belgian mother and a Dutch architect father. He is a painter, graphic designer, theater decorator, designer and considered one of the artisans of Art Nouveau. Indeed, between 1890 and 1900, when he moved to Montmartre, he was noticed by producing posters, illustrations and paintings in the style of this new art. These creations are refined and elegant. He will be influenced by Japanese symbolism and art. From 1894, Georges de Feure became involved in fields as varied as bookbinding, tapestry and furniture. He decorated many home interiors. The childhood of Georges de Feure He comes from a wealthy and distinguished family from which he will keep an aristocratic air.
The bankruptcy of his father, when he was 13 years old, will lead him to a trading house. He was taken on as a clerk in a shipping office, a clerk in a bookstore, then a worker in a hat factory in Rotterdam and ended up ending up in an accessories factory and assistant decorator. He will join a troupe to be a decorator, costume designer, actor and even author. His artistic career began at age 21 in 1889.
The decisive meeting with Samuel Bing
In 1899 Samuel (or Siegfried) Bing (1838-1905), founder of the “Maison de l'Art Nouveau” store, met Georges de Feure. It was the beginning of a collaboration where he exercised his art in stained glass , with the realization of some of them for the pavilion of Art Nouveau at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900. He will also produce elements of furniture and accessories for bathrooms and boudoirs, vases, trinkets and jewelry that will be presented in Samuel Bing's store located at 22 rue de Provence in Paris.
Who is Samuel Bing?
Siegfried Bing is a German-born French art dealer, collector, art critic and patron. On his French naturalization, he will be called Samuel. He will create an exhibition-sale space with the “Maison de l'Art Nouveau”. It is composed of 6 rooms on two floors. Samuel Bing inaugurates this place on December 28, 1895, there are among others works by Georges de Feure, Emile Gallé, René Lalique, Louis Comfort Tiffany or Louis Majorelle .
The main productions of Georges de Feure
These glassworks are famous for the reproduction of ancient scenes on vases. He also designed decorative glass objects bearing his name: urns, vases and lamps.
