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$1,450
A highly decorative pair of large vintage Moroccan glazed ceramic water jugs, handcrafted and hand-painted in Fez, Morocco, circa 1940. With their sculptural rounded bodies, distinctive loop handles and exuberant polychrome decoration, the pair is a wonderful example of the celebrated ceramic tradition of Fez. Each vessel stands approximately 14 inches high by 9 inches in diameter, giving the pair substantial presence while remaining versatile enough for display on a console, sideboard, library shelf or large dining table. The white glazed ceramic bodies are richly decorated by hand with a lively combination of cobalt blue, turquoise, teal green, saffron orange-yellow, deep prune-red, black and ivory. Repeating floral and geometric motifs are organized within bold scalloped reserves, creating the rhythmic surface pattern characteristic of traditional Moroccan decorative pottery. The coloration and ornament reflect the broader Hispano-Moresque and Andalusian decorative vocabulary that profoundly influenced the architecture and decorative arts of Morocco. Cobalt and turquoise provide particularly strong visual accents against the ivory ground, while the darker outlines give the hand-painted motifs an almost graphic quality. The distinctive circular handles rise prominently above the vessels, creating strong sculptural silhouettes. Small openings incorporated into the upper sections further emphasize their original inspiration as traditional water vessels while making them especially interesting today as decorative objects. Handcrafted rather than industrially produced, the two vessels display the subtle irregularities, variations in brushwork and glaze characteristics that give traditional Moroccan ceramics their individuality and character. Displayed together, the pair makes a particularly strong decorative statement and would complement Mediterranean, Spanish Colonial, Moorish, Islamic, Moroccan, Bohemian and eclectic interiors. They could also provide a striking historical counterpoint within a restrained contemporary interior. Sold as a pair. Handcrafted and hand-painted in Fez, Morocco, circa 1940.
