The Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History  
World MapsTimelines / RegionsThematic EssaysWorks of ArtIndex  
Coffee service, 1900–1904
Designer: Léon Kann (French, active 1896–ca. 1915; active at Sèvres 1896–98, 1900–1908); Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present)
Hard-paste porcelain; H. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
Marks: [1] S / 1900 in a triangle printed in underglaze black (factory year mark indicating pâte nouvelle); [2] incised marks
Gift of Diane R. Wolf, 1988 (1988.287.1a,b)

This coffee service embodies the Art Nouveau style in ceramics. The designer chose the fennel plant to literally encase the functional wares, thereby integrating their utilitarian aspects with Art Nouveau's embrace of naturalistic forms. The gray-green enamel of the "fennel" portions was applied to unglazed porcelain, producing a matte texture similar to that of the plant itself, in contrast to the glossy, glazed white areas above.

Open full-size and alternate view(s)


    • Related Timeline(s)


    • Coffee service, 1900–1904
    Designer: Léon Kann (French, active 1896–ca. 1915; active at Sèvres 1896–98, 1900–1908); Sèvres Manufactory (French, 1740–present)
    Hard-paste porcelain; H. 7 in. (17.8 cm)
    Marks: [1] S / 1900 in a triangle printed in underglaze black (factory year mark indicating pâte nouvelle); [2] incised marks
    Gift of Diane R. Wolf, 1988 (1988.287.1a,b)