Rare Longwy French Ceramic Cloisonné Art Deco Coffee /Tea Suite: Large Tea Pot, Sugar Bowl & Creamer with 8 Teacups and Saucers

A stunning Art Deco period faience 1930’s Longwy enamel tea service, comprising a large teapot, creamer, sugar bowl and eight tea cups with saucers. Made in France by the Emaux de Longwy art pottery workshop and dating circa 1920-30s. This earthenware set is hand-decorated with Chinoiserie decor and a cloisonné-style enameled glaze. The enamelling is almost jewel-like in quality.

Famous for its powerful influence on the ceramics industry, the Boch family was behind the founding of the Faïencerie de Longwy in 1798 in a former convent. The French town of Longwy, in the region of Lorraine near the Belgian border, is home to this unique tradition of laying enameled colors–cloisonné–on top of ceramic vessels.  In the late 1700s, the popularity and commercial success of Asian ceramics inspired ceramicists in Longwy to achieve this technical feat. By the 1820s, artisans were creating the beautiful saturated enamels, including a full range of blues from royal to turquoise, and the now-characteristic bleu de Longwy. It’s this distinctive color–not quite turquoise–as well as the finely crackled effect of the enamel across the surface, that distinguishes Longwy enamels, or émaux de Longwy. Its production gained in renown after the visit of the Emperor Napoleon I, who ordered tableware from Longwy for the Imperial Houses of the Legion of Honour.

Only a handful of ceramicists carry on the particular tradition of Longwy enamels today. You may be surprised at the high value of the Longwy enamels today which is the result of the rarity & the intensive labor involved in producing these beautiful wares.

Pattern No. D188

teapot – width including spout & handle 8.75″ x height 9.75″ x depth 5.5″

creamer – width including handle 5.5″ x height 4.25″ x depth 3.75″

sugar bowl – width including handles 6.75″ x height including lid 4.5″ x depth 5.0″

cup- width including handle 4″ x height 2.5″ x diameter 3.25″

saucer -diameter 5.25″ x height 0.25″

Excellent antique condition.