Faïencerie de Thulin ‘La Dame aux lévriers’ glazed earthenware sculpture, ca 1930

1. Full description of the work:

This earthenware sculpture depicts an elegant woman holding two leaping greyhounds, captured in a graceful, dynamic movement. The scene rests on an elongated rectangular base. The material has a glossy enamel finish with a metallic sheen, dominated by dark tones (steel grey) with touches of pale green in the drape of the skirt, accentuating the contrast and modernity of the whole.

The lines are fluid, the bodies elongated, almost stylised: the woman embodies elegance, while the greyhounds evoke speed and nobility. The overall effect is very graphic, almost choreographic in its staging.

2. Art period: Art Deco (circa 1920-1935):

The work is clearly in the Art Deco style:

- Streamlined, elongated and stylised forms;

- Representation of the modern woman, free, elegant and on the move;

- Interest in stylised fauna (here greyhounds, animals that were fashionable in the Roaring Twenties);

- Bright enamel with metallic highlights, typical of the decorative research of the period.

Art Deco followed on from Art Nouveau, moving away from vegetal scrolls in favour of geometry, élan and a certain luxurious austerity. This sculpture is a perfect illustration of the modernity of the inter-war period.

3. The Faïencerie de Thulin:

The Faïencerie de Thulin, which has been active in Belgium (Hainaut province) since the 19th century, is renowned for its ability to follow aesthetic trends, particularly Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

- Specialising in fine, glazed and artistic earthenware, it produced both utilitarian and decorative pieces.

- Its Art Deco production is sought after for its metallic finishes, dynamic shapes and glaze quality.

- Pieces signed or stamped ‘Thulin' are now collector's items, bearing witness to Belgian ceramic expertise in the early 20th century.