White Glazed Ceramic Vase with Chain-Link Handles, Signed, French Work, circa 1970

This refined ceramic vase is a piece of considerable originality, notable above all for its distinctive decorative handles: interlocking ceramic rings forming chain-like loops that hang loosely between the neck and the shoulder of the vessel. The device — which requires considerable skill and patience in the making, as the rings must be formed and attached while the clay is still workable, yet fired integrally with the rest of the piece — gives the vase a playful, sculptural quality that elevates it well above the merely functional. The chains sway gently when the vase is moved, adding a kinetic dimension to an otherwise static object.

The body of the vase is an elegant amphora form with a ribbed surface — the vertical ridges running from the shoulder to the foot creating a satisfying rhythm of light and shade around the circumference. The entire piece is covered in a warm, opaque white glaze that unifies the various sculptural elements and gives the surface a smooth, porcelain-like quality. The colour — a warm white with the faintest grey undertone — has the calm, neutral beauty that allows the form to speak without distraction.

The piece is signed on the base, attesting to the pride of its maker in this accomplished work. French ceramic art in the post-war period produced many potters of distinction, working in traditions that combined the craft legacy of regional ateliers with the influence of studio pottery from Japan, Scandinavia, and the Anglo-American world. This vase, with its combination of classical form and inventive decorative device, is characteristic of the best of that production.

A charming, original, and beautifully made ceramic vase. French work, signed, circa 1970. Dimensions: W. 20.5 × D. 18.5 × H. 24.5 cm.