Marc Louis Solon Pate-Sur-Pate - Liberty & Love (1868)

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Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art

By Artemis Fine Arts

May 1, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-05-01 10:00:00 2025-05-01 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities, Asian, Ethno, Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethno-fine-art-19334
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• Lot Description
  Marc-Louis-Emmanuel Solon, pseudonym "Miles" (French, 1835-1913). Liberty and Love. Pate-sur-pate glazed and gilt porcelain, 1868. Signed with pseudonym "Miles" at lower right. Verso stamped with date and inscribed "Rousseau / rue coquilliere / 41." Crafted in pate-sur-pate by Marc Louis Solon in 1868, a vision unfolds in delicate white relief against a tranquil sea of blue. Liberty, draped in flowing garments, stands as an allegorical beacon, her head crowned with the Phrygian cap—a potent symbol of freedom in France, echoing the ideals of the Revolution. Cymbals adorn her shoulder, hinting at the clamor of liberation, while her graceful posture, her hand raised, displaying the index and middle fingers in a V-shape. And there, partially concealed by the folds of her gown, a playful putto, representing Love, peeks out, his presence adding a touch of mischievousness and complexity to the scene. At her feet, abandoned on the ground, lie a trumpet and tympanum. Framed by an intricate gilt border, this plaque evokes an era where ideals of freedom and passion intertwined. Size: 0.5" L x 3.6" W x 8" H (1.3 cm x 9.1 cm x 20.3 cm)
  
  Marc Louis Solon (1835-1913) was a highly influential French ceramicist, renowned particularly for his mastery of the delicate pate-sur-pate technique. After initial training at the Imperial Manufactory of Sevres, where he honed his skills in this labor-intensive method of layering liquid clay to create raised relief decorations, Solon later established a significant and prolific career with the Mintons factory in England. His exquisite cameo-like plaques, vases, and other decorative objects, often depicting classical or allegorical subjects, brought him international acclaim and significantly elevated the artistic standards of ceramic production during the late 19th century. Solon's innovative approach and exceptional craftsmanship left an enduring legacy on the world of decorative arts.
  
  Primarily recognized for his work at Mintons, Marc Louis Solon's artistic journey started in 1857 at the Imperial Manufactory of Sevres, where he learned the pate-sur-pate decoration technique. During his time there, as detailed by Bernard Bumpus in Pate-sur-Pate, The Art of Ceramic Relief Decoration, 1849-1992 (p. 52), Solon developed a relationship with Eugene Rousseau, a well-regarded Parisian art dealer. Bumpus quotes Solon (ibid.) recounting how Rousseau commissioned him to produce small pate-sur-pate pieces, like vases and plaques. For these specific commissions, Solon explained that he used the pseudonym "Miles," derived from his initials. However, Bumpus also notes (p. 53) that contrary to Solon's assertion, many of his creations are not signed. This particular piece stands out as one of the few known examples bearing the "Miles" signature.
  
  A similar pate-sur-pate by Marc Louis Solon hammered $11,340 (now $12,169.04 with inflation) at Christie's New York on October 7th, 2022 (Online Auction 21000 "The Collector: English & European Furniture, Ceramics, Silver & Works of Art," lot 91).
  
  Provenance: Los Angeles, California, USA collection
  
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  #193568

  Condition

  Signed with pseudonym "Miles" at lower right. Verso stamped with date and inscribed "Rousseau / rue coquilliere / 41." Some miniscule pitting to upper area, but imagery is still clear. Some age-expected marks and old adhesive on verso that do not affect imagery. Otherwise, in excellent overall condition.
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