Antique 19th century French art glass cabinet vase attributed to François-Eugène Rousseau. Fascinating shade of green color to the vase with applied amber colored glass ornamentation. Hand painted with enamel flowers and gold accents. One side detailing a Japonisme style geometric form characteristic of Rousseau. The other side with an applied glass insect. To the top of the rim is applied drip trails. Flanking the sides are applied elephant heads in high relief done in amber colored glass with gilt accents, whose trunks form openwork handles. Terminating to a circular base resting on a bronze mount with four opulent feet stylized as gingko leaves and bamboo. Unsigned. Polished pontil to the base. Stands 6 1/4" height x 4" across the elephants x 3 1/4" wide. In overall good antique condition with general wear commensurate with age and use. There is a nick to the head of the insect and to one of its legs, with a couple of scratches to the glass on that side.
François-Eugène Rousseau (1827-1890), known as Eugène Rousseau, is a master glass maker who established himself in 1855 as a merchant specialized in porcelain and earthenware at 43, rue Coquillière in Paris. Around 1867, he devotes himself to glass and appealed to the talents of Eugène Michel to engrave a range of glassware. In 1867, while he was interested in Japanese motifs, Eugène Rousseau asks Félix Bracquemond to create a porcelain service which will be exhibited at the World’s Fair in Paris, where for the first time a European artist directly copies a Japanese artist, reproducing animal figures from the Hokusai’s Manga. Following the success of this service, the Japanese aesthetic will influence Rousseau's production. In 1869, two of his painted glasses were purchased by the Victoria and Albert Museum. His Japonisme style glass works produced with the help of the brothers Appert in Clichy and the crystal making factory Baccarat, will appear in 1874 in Paris at the Fourth Exhibition of the Central Union of Fine Arts Applied to Industry. Member of the Central Union of Decorative Arts since its creation in 1862, he received the cross of the Legion of Honor. At the end of his career, he partnered with Ernest Leveillé, who was also his student. Leveillé will continue the work of Eugène Rousseau after his death, having bought his workshop rue Coquillière in 1885.