19TH-CENTURY PORTUGUESE TUREEN — BLUE AND WHITE WITH HISTORY

Some pieces carry the simple elegance of old Portuguese tables, where every object was made to serve, decorate and endure. This 19th-century Portuguese tureen, in faience, has precisely that presence: generous, antique, functional and deeply decorative.

I am especially charmed by its rounded shape, the high lid with cut-out handle, and the blue decoration on a light ground, with small landscapes of Oriental-inspired taste — trees, houses, water and figures suggested by quick brushstrokes. There is in this tureen a naïve and very poetic beauty, where the blue comes alive over the old glaze, marked by time and memory.

The small signs of use, the natural wear on the edges and the warm tone of the faience give it wonderful authenticity. They are the marks of a lived-in piece, of a table with history, of a home where objects had soul and presence. Perfect for a display cabinet, a side table, a kitchen with character or a collection of antique Portuguese faience.

Portuguese faience tureen, blue and white decoration, 19th century.