Pair of large French majolica jardinieres on pedestals

These majolica jardinieres on pedestals were crafted in France in the early 20th Century. The two have been glazed with bright green and brown paint, which has been allowed to drip, creating a compelling streaked effect.

The pedestals stand on brown-painted circular bases, which are decorated with acanthus leaf relief ornament. Above, the lower part of the pedestal shaft is similarly ringed by stylised leaves.

The body of the shaft features lively mythological relief scenes, depicting classical figures emerging from a sea of swirling forms. In one image, a semi-nude male figure, depicted from the torso up, blows into a conch shell and rides on the back of sea monsters. This is possibly Neptune, the Roman god of the sea. He is accompanied by other semi-nude male figures, who pull on a piece of drapery that a nude woman reclines on. This woman is possibly Venus, the goddess of love, since she is accompanied by cherubs, carrying burning torches, who swoop in the air above. The top of the pedestal shaft is decorated with a stylised egg-and-dart moulding.

The pedestals are topped by jardinieres. These stand on shaped, brown-painted stems, and have simple, bell-shaped handle-less bowls. The bowls are ornamented with relief carvings, in a similar way to the shafts. The scenes depict cherubs, classical female nudes, and semi-nude males. The figures are full of movement, and their bodies are beautifully entwined.