Theodore Deck & His Turquoise Treasures

Joseph-Théodore Deck (1823-91) was a celebrated French potter who ran a successful workshop in Paris for many years in the mid to late 19th century.  This workshop, Joseph-Théodore Ceramique Française, produced ceramics in a variety of styles, including in foreign Iznik and Chinese patterns. One of Deck's greatest legacies is the famed bleu de Deck, which …

Craqueluring the Code: What is Craquelure?

It is no secret that we are a fan of ceramic and porcelain lamps (for proof, see here and here).  One term that often comes up when discussing ceramics is the term craquelure.  So what does it mean? Craquelure is the fine pattern of cracking on the surface of materials, and in the case of …

Blue and White: The Perfect Colour Combination

What can we say?  We love blue and white.  And we are certainly not alone.  The classic colour combination featured prominently in the incredible decorative arts exported from China to Europe starting in the seventeenth century and was then adopted by the Dutch, who made blue and white Delftware a trend on its own. Below we have featured a selection …

Bright Idea! Lighting with Canton Vases

We aren't the first, and we certainly won't be the last... for decades, antique dealers have been converting porcelain vases into lamps.  These lamps give new life to the vases and they fit in seamlessly with so many different interiors whether traditional or modern. Today, we are going to look into the history of a …