Ceramics & Glass
Charles Catteau for Boch Frères Keramis, Stylized Pelican Vase, circa 1924–25
Charles Catteau for Boch Frères Keramis, Stylized Pelican Vase, circa 1924–25
This vivid and powerful crackle finish ceramic vase was designed by Charles Catteau for Boch Frères Keramis around 1924–25, a period when Catteau’s work pushed boundaries in bold color, graphic design, and symbolic form. Featuring a dynamic encircling motif of stylized pelicans in flight, this piece masterfully blends Art Deco and early modernist aesthetics. The soaring birds, executed in rich cobalt blue, white, and ochre glazes, glide across a field of sky blue, with thick outlines and dramatic contrast lending the scene rhythm and movement. The raised enamel technique accentuates the dimensionality of the birds and clouds, a signature approach within Catteau’s atelier during this fertile creative period.
The vase is an exceptional example from the series of animalistic designs that brought international acclaim to Catteau and Boch Frères at the height of the Art Deco era. The craquelure glaze further enhances the texture and vintage character of the ceramic surface. Notably, there is a discreet factory-drilled hole at the base, indicating the vase may have been intended for use as a lamp, a common adaptation for such works at the time. However, this does not detract in any way from the strength or importance of the piece, which remains an iconic expression of Catteau’s visionary artistry.
Whether displayed as a sculptural form or returned to its possible function as a lamp base, this piece stands as a brilliant and highly collectible work of Belgian Art Deco ceramic design.
