Jug

The cylindrical, short foot supports a pear-shaped jug with broad, protruding, oval top and a spout that is shaped as a bird's neck and head. The large, Hat handle with ribbon motifs also springs from the bottom of the jug in a scroll. The whole surface of the jug is decorated with lively relief shell and volute motifs, spread acanthus leaves and flowers, which are emphasized by painting. There is the coat of arms of Nancy behind the spout, surmounted by a bearded male mask with floating hair and contracted eyebrows. The other mask is placed at the bottom of the handle: it is fairly realistic, with a moustache and the eyes wide open.

Charles Gallé-Reinemer (the father of Emile Gallé) was already successful at the 1855 Paris World Exhibition with his Louis XV-style ornaments that were supposed to have a national characteristic.

A covered variant of the above jug is published with a great number of analogies by Josef A. Schmoll: Nancy 1900. Jugendstil in Lothringen, zwischen Historismus u. Art deco. Münchener Stadtmuseum, 1980, Nr. 74.