Desvres, France
Freres Fourmaintraux

Glazed Ceramics
ca. 1879-1904
Length: 19.25 in, Width: 6.25 in, Depth: 1.5 in
Strings – Lutes – Violin Family

This French glazed ceramic violin is made from a white clay painted with detailed floral patterns throughout the front, sides, and neck in vibrant colors featuring a butterfly and bird in flight.  At the bottom of the instrument is a small ceramic peg painted with yellow and black which functions as a tailpiece. The tuning pegs at the top of the instrument are painted as well.  The back is plain white, signed by the artist “F.F. 378”.  This is the mark used from about 1879 to 1904. The number below the initials is a catalog number.   This violin is not for playing, only a display of elegance.

The Fourmaintraux family’s ceramics business can trace its origins to François-Joseph Marie Fourmaintraux (1764-1841) of Desvres, France, who founded his factory in 1804.   His son, Louis Francois Fourmaintraux (1802-1885) followed with Jules, joining him in 1879, during the period of when this violin was made based on the marks and dates from the market town records of Desvres, France.  Today, the ceramicist Camille Fourmaintraux, is the 10th generation of his family working in ceramics. Historically, the family’s name can sometimes be found spelt “Fourmentraux”.