Paul Milet (1870-1950) for Sevres
A pair of early 20th century ormolu mounted deep blue/purple Flambé porcelain vases. The flared tops above an ormolu band with tapering ovoid body standing on a flared socle and ormolu base. Marked ‘MP SEVRES’ to the bases.
Height 11 3/4″ (30cm)
Base diameter 4″ (10.2cm)
French
Circa 1910
Paul Milet was the son of the ceramist Félix Optat Milet (1838-1911). After training in the laboratory of the Manufacture de Sèvres, he became a chemist and worked in the factory founded by his father in 1866 at 8, rue Troyon in Sèvres. Paul worked with Félix until his fathers death in 1911, then with his son Henri, a ceramics engineer, who later was appointed director of the factory in 1931, father and son worked in close collaboration.
At the Salon des artistes français, Milet exhibited unique and utilitarian pieces: inkwells, vases, candlesticks. He obtained an honorary diploma at the Fire Arts exhibition in 1897.
At the Universal Exhibition of 1900, he obtained a gold medal for his earthenware “of pleasant shapes, decorated by the most diverse processes, cloisonné enamels, enamels on gold paillon. In all these decorations, Millet used with discernment the rich palette of enamels that he mastered.
Milet also exhibited at the Palais Galliera during the Porcelain Exhibition in 1907, then in 1909 and 1911 at the Exhibition of stoneware, earthenware and terracotta.
He abandoned porcelain production after the First World War.
