Large Mid-20th Century Vallauris Majolica Basket-Shaped Bowl W/ Barbotine Fruit - 20"

This mid-twentieth-century majolica fruit bowl is modeled as a shallow round basket with a braided rim and interlaced trompe-l’œil wickerwork in a creamy white glaze. Two arched vine handles in warm chestnut glaze curl along the rim, punctuated by colorful barbotine fruit and foliage. The piece is unmarked but of clear quality production, and it is likely from Vallauris, the renowned pottery town in southern France. At a rather rare large size, it makes a particularly striking presence as both a decorative and functional piece.

The bowl reflects the Riviera’s postwar pottery renaissance, when ateliers in Vallauris revitalized regional faïence with exuberant barbotine modeling and vivid glazes. Wickerwork forms and applied fruit recall nineteenth-century French and Italian trompe-l’œil tablewares. Intended as a decorative centerpiece or serving vessel for fresh fruit, it celebrates the pastoral motifs long associated with Provençal craft.

This spirited bowl brings a dash of Provençal color to a kitchen island, breakfast table, or open shelving. It works beautifully as a centerpiece on a farm table filled with citrus or seasonal produce, or as a sculptural accent left empty on a console, where the woven relief and vine handles can be fully appreciated. Its rustic countryside charm softens sleek counters and pairs equally well with copper, butcher block, and marble, making a warm statement in both traditional and modern interiors.