Christofle Silver-Plated Fish Shape Vase

Designed by Émile Reiber, an architect who became the head of Christofle’s design and composition workshop from 1865 to 1878, the fish-shaped Vase is inspired by a Japanese bronze vase from the late Edo period (1603-1868) belonging to the Cernuschi Museum’s collection.

A spearhead of the Japonisme movement and passionate about Asian arts, Reiber revisited this piece in 1874 for Christofle, in cloisonné enamel, a delicate technique he perfected and brought back into fashion. This vase, on loan from the Musée d’Orsay, is part of the exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

An essential classic of the house, this fish-shaped Vase is reissued in patinated silver-plated metal (13 inches in height), made for the first time in a solid cast, without assembly, with special attention paid by the workshops to certain details such as the eyes or fins, to give it life and character.