Crevettes, support en bronze pour un vase. Martin-pêcheur et poissons, jardinière bronze et émail cloisonné. 1897

This is a design for decorative objects made by Maurice Pillard Verneuil, likely around the turn of the 20th century. It features bronze and cloisonné enamel, a technique where metal wires create cells filled with colored glass paste, then fired for a luminous finish. The material qualities are paramount. The bronze, cast and chased, provides a warm, weighty presence and a sense of prestige. Enamel work offered a contrast, with its jewel-like colors and smooth, reflective surface. The design, rendered in a flowing, organic style, hints at the Art Nouveau movement’s love of nature. The making of these objects would have been labor-intensive. Bronze casting requires skilled hands to create molds and refine the metalwork. Cloisonné demands patience, precision, and a deep understanding of material properties. This is luxury production, designed for an elite market, a world apart from the labor that produced more quotidian objects. The emphasis on handcraft reflects a conscious choice, distancing these items from mass-produced goods.