Style Art Nouveau / Ref.15414

Eugène FEUILLÂTRE, "Poppy" inkwell, circa 1898

This inkwell, shaped like a poppy pod, was created by Eugène Feuillâtre around 1898, when a silver inkwell of this model (now housed in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris) was presented at the Salon des Artistes Français.

Eugène Feuillâtre (1870-1916) was both a sculptor, goldsmith, jeweler, and enameler. At the age of twenty, he was appointed head of the enameling workshop at René Lalique, where his mastery of both jewelry-making and enameling allowed him to create exceptional pieces. He later opened his own workshop and specialized in creating cloisonné or painted enamels in the Art Nouveau style. He exhibited his works at numerous Salons, notably in 1898, where he presented an inkwell similar to ours, and at the Exposition Internationale de l’Est de la France in Nancy in 1909. He died prematurely at the age of forty-six.

Feuillâtre’s pieces are particularly recognizable by their milky, pearly, or opalescent backgrounds, like that of our work. The enamel, a very light and pearly green, features delicate incisions that hold fine gold-colored demarcations in places; these outline a peacock feather, a motif favored by the artist. The body of the inkwell takes the shape of a poppy pod and reflects his inspiration from natural motifs; at the top, the stylized vegetal collar can be lifted to reveal the inside of the inkwell. This highly precious piece is stamped under the lid and the base.

A copy of this inkwell was sold at Artcurial on 28 November 2022 (lot no. 33) for €9,000 (excluding costs). A variant with more pronounced color variations, dated around 1900, is housed in the Musée d’Orsay under the title of “vase”.