Plaque with lizard

Pierre Roche (pseudonym of Fernand Massignon)|Alexandre Bigot

ca. 1898–1900 · Glazed stoneware · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

A French chemistry professor-turned-ceramist, Alexander Bigot was a prominent figure in the field of architectural ceramics. Initially inspired by East Asian pottery, Bigot often incorporated lively reliefs of aquatic fauna into his stoneware. On this plaque, a partially submerged lizard emerges from a pool of glaze, and the surface bubbles and froths like mud. Typical of the Art Nouveau style that swept through the Belle Époque period, motif and form blend seamlessly into one – representing both the fascination with nature and the advances in decorative technique of this time.

Artist

Pierre Roche (pseudonym of Fernand Massignon)|Alexandre Bigot

Date

ca. 1898–1900

Medium

Glazed stoneware

Culture

French

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts