Ceramics & Glass
Boch Catteau Matt Finish Ultra Rare Model Art Deco
Ultra-Rare Boch Frères Vase – Matte Finish, Geometric Star Pattern | Attributed to Charles Catteau Era
An extraordinary discovery from the Boch Frères Keramis atelier, this hand-painted Art Deco vase features a striking matte enamel finish and an exceptionally rare geometric pattern not found in any known references or catalogues. Covered in stylized stars, diamonds, and abstract forms, this piece is likely a one-off or experimental designproduced under the artistic direction of Charles Catteau, the celebrated ceramicist who revolutionized modernist Belgian ceramics in the 1920s and 1930s.
The color palette is warm and inviting, combining earth tones and ochres in true Art Deco harmony. While the vase form itself is classic to Boch’s 1930s production, the decoration is entirely unique—a pattern not documented in the major Catteau monographs or museum collections. It is clearly hand-painted with remarkable care and creativity, suggesting a studio prototype or special edition.
The base bears the familiar Boch Frères “wolf” hallmark, along with a pair of artist’s initials, likely “MF,” pointing to a specific studio painter or designer working under Catteau’s supervision. The matte glaze—soft, dry, and richly textured—is one of the most desirable surface treatments from the period, comparable to finishes seen across ceramic houses in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands during the high Art Deco era.
This is a rare opportunity to acquire a museum-quality Art Deco ceramic, virtually unseen in the marketplace and a true gem for collectors of Catteau, Boch Frères, or interwar European design.
