ADAM'S THE LIBRARY COLLECTION 29th April 2025

67 www.adams.ie The Library Collection | 29 th April 2025 109 A LARGE SARREGUEMINES MAJOLICA URN AND PEDESTAL BY ALEXANDRE DE GEIGER (1808 - 1891) & PAUL DE GEIGER (1837 - 1913) C.1880 - 1890 the urn with stylised sunburst lion heads to either side, decorated with serpents wrapped around the handles and water reeds draped below on socle base, raised on pedestal base with geometrical design to each side and acanthus capped bracket to each corner, 172cm high Provenance: Galerie Vauclair, Paris, where acquired € 6,000 - 10,000 108 A SARREGUEMINES MAJOLICA PORELCAIN WALL CLOCK BY ALEXANDRE DE GEIGER (1808 - 1891) & PAUL DE GEIGER (1837 - 1913), C.1875 circular glazed door enclosing a white enamel dial inked with Arabic numerals, twin winding apertures, with scroll work cresting, the body decorated with fruiting vines and ribbon tied bough. c.66cm high Provenance: Galerie Vauclair, Paris, where acquired € 1,500 - 2,500 Sarreguemines Pottery was founded around 1790 by Nicholas-Hen- ri and Paul-Augustin Jacobi, along with Joseph Fabry. The company gained prominence under Paul Utzschneider, who took over manage - ment in 1800 and established its reputation for exceptional majolica work, making Sarreguemines a key centre for European ceramics. Notably, its tiles were used in the Paris Métro, inaugurated in 1900. In 1836, Utzschneider’s son-in-law, Alexandre de Geiger, assumed leadership, later partnering with Villeroy & Boch to expand oper- ations during the industrial revolution. Following the annexation of Moselle by Germany in 1871, de Geiger relocated to Paris, leav- ing the factory to his son, Paul de Geiger, who oversaw the estab- lishment of new facilities in Digoin and Vitry-le-François. Despite its historical influence, Sarreguemines ceased production in 2007. Celebrated for its avant-garde designs and vividly glazed ceramics, the company’s creations—including pedestals, jardinières, and fountains— demonstrated extraordinary craftsmanship. During the late nineteenth century, European ceramic trends embraced revivalist styles and the rise of Art Nouveau, Aestheticism, and the Arts and Crafts Move- ment, featuring botanical and animal motifs reflected a vibrant artis - tic and cultural era in which Sarreguemines played a significant role.