Pair of nymphs sculptures in terracotta, 1880-1905

Mandeville-Combeleran, stamped.

Pair of sculptures in terracotta figuring two nymphs on columns in fake marble painted wood. They are both hair-dressed and clothes dressed like in Antiquity, in contrapposto position, have a naked breast and are in a tormented attitude with head up to the sky and moving arms and tunics.
One holds in a cup and a small amphora that she pours. An eagle stands to her feet and spread one of its wings behind her to protect her.
The other one holds a cup and a bunch of grapevine that she squeezes. She stands in front of a tree stump wounded by ivy. She wears grapes and fig leaves for crown and wears on her forearm a bracelet with bells.

Sculptures stand on columns with moulded capital and base in fake veined yellow marble.

Dimensions : H 190 x D 37 cm.

Reference : LS35472551

Women might be two Nymphs linked to Bacchus given their attributes (vine, ivy, amphora) and maybe take part of a Bacchanal procession where music leads guests and wine flows.

The fact that an eagle is represented next to a nymph maybe shows the filiation of these women with Jupiter, father of the Nymphs according to Homer, but also Bacchus’ father.

The Mandeville pottery was created in 1880 and led in collaboration with Combeleran and Douarche under the name “Mandeville-Combeleran” and then with Bernier who married Anne Mandeville in 1905. Until 1914 it was the most important earthenware manufacture at Castelnaudary (Aude) with 130 workers on it.
After a reduction of its staff after the First World War, the company closed in 1935. Its production varied to common, horticulture and architectural pottery and exceled in enamel technique. Its rectangular stamp evolved to Mandeville-Combeleran (1880-1905) to Mandeville-Bernier (1905-1935).