Art Nouveau era French Sevres porcelain vase by from the atelier of Paul Milet, son of Optat Milet. A wonderful example of French Japonism, both in the imagery and use of polychrome enamel glazes to imitate cloisonné. The baluster-form vase features intricate embossed relief. Hand painted with yellow and purple chrysanthemum flowers against a green ground. The collar decorated with an intricate and colorful border. With the added touch of a charming blue color glazing the top interior of the vase. Marked for Paul Milet, circa 1900. Measures 11" height x 5 1/2" widest, 4" diameter opening. In good condition antique condition. Some scattered minute inherent glaze flaws, three chips located at the bottom rim as shown.
Paul Milet, son of Optat Milet, came from a well-defined lineage of potters. Optat Milet began his career as a modeler for Sèvres in 1862, and opened his own ceramics factory in 1866. Paul Milet entered his father's pottery workshop in the town of Sèvres in 1894 and for the next 36 years produced high-quality ceramics sold through Parisian shops and interior decorators. Because his aesthetic preferences kept pace with the fashions of the era, his early works like this vase, favours the floral and whiplash ornamentation associated with the Art Nouveau movement. By comparison, his later work is serene yet streamlined, with simple forms flambe glazed in high-contrast bold jazz-age colors indicative of the Art Deco era.