The Pair of Gien Bowls

THIS LISTING IS FOR THE PAIR OF BOWLS.

A pair of antique French footed café au lait bowls of the late nineteenth century, printed in brown transferware with hand-coloured touches of red and green — flowers and small figures in a band around each body. Both are marked on the base PORCELAINE OPAQUE beneath a crowned cartouche with FRANCE and the pattern number 222, the mark Gien introduced in 1886. One bowl carries an even crazing with warm staining settled into it; the other is clear and white, as though it lived a quieter life. Neither has chips or cracks.

Porcelaine opaque was a trade name rather than a description — fine white earthenware sold as porcelain-like, and opaque. Found at a market in Amiens.

Two make a grouping rather than a place setting — a pair of them on a shelf, or a stem in each.

Condition and patina consistent with age.

Approx. each 3⅛" high x 4½" diameter
Approx. each 8cm high x 11.5cm diameter

Shipping to the United States: the price you see includes all import duties and tariffs. Your pieces travel DDP — Delivered Duty Paid — so there is nothing further to pay when they arrive, and no customs paperwork for you to deal with. Shipping is calculated separately at checkout. More on shipping & customs →