Elephant Ceramic Vase Design 20th Century French Signed Vallauris Louis Giraud

Elephant Ceramic Vase Design, 20th Century French, Signed Vallauris Louis Giraud 

This large original ceramic vase features a striking black, gold, and cream design depicting two elephants walking through the woods, possibly a mother and baby. Created by Louis Giraud for Vallauris circa 1925-1930, this is a very early piece from a renowned French company known for its decorative ceramic pieces. This vase embodies the rich artistic heritage of Vallauris, a coastal town in the South of France. Vallauris became synonymous with ceramics, and its association with Pablo Picasso further elevated its status. In the spring of 1948, Picasso moved to Vallauris, taking up residence in the La Galloise villa. A year later, he rented a studio in a former fragrance factory in Le Fournas, solidifying Vallauris as a center for pottery on the French Riviera.

This piece was designed during the Art Deco period, around the 1930s, when animals were commonly integrated into designs by renowned glass and ceramic companies. Louis Giraud (1897-1985) worked for Vallauris through the 1950s, and this early piece is representative of the kinds of decorative art being created in France and Belgium by companies like Boch/Catteau, Daum, Lalique, and Galle.