Pair of Art Nouveau Vases

Date : circa 1900
Dimensions Vase Fleur-de-Lys : 83 x 18,5 x 18,5 cm
Dimensions Vase Reeds : 83 x 18 x 18 cm
Material : Bronze with double patina
Technique : Lost-wax casting
Foundry : La Compagnie des Bronzes de Bruxelles

This extraordinary pair of Art Nouveau vases, created circa 1900 by the Belgian artist and master founder Jean-Baptiste Sloodts (1843–?), exemplifies the poetic fusion of sculpture and decorative art. Cast in lost-wax bronze with a double patina in light and dark brown, each vase stands as a singular work of technical refinement and symbolist inspiration.

The first vase is adorned with reeds and aquatic plants, its graceful contours crowned by two chimney swallows perched atop the rim. The second features richly sculpted irises and is surmounted by two window swallows, their wings captured in mid-motion. The naturalistic modelling of flora and fauna, animated by a rhythmic interplay of vertical and diagonal lines, reflects the organic aesthetic of early Belgian Art Nouveau. These recurring motifs—swallows, irises, reeds, and fleur-de-lys—carry symbolic resonance, evoking freedom, purity, resilience, and renewal.

Both vases are signed “JBte Sloodts,” attesting to the rare privilege of Sloodts being both a sculptor and a certified first-class founder. Having worked at the Compagnie des Bronzes in Brussels, Sloodts distinguished himself by casting and signing his own works—an exceptional feat among foundrymen of the time. His expertise in patina application and surface detail made his creations particularly sought after, though surviving signed examples remain exceedingly rare.

The vases measure 83 and 83.5 cm in height, with bases of 18 × 18 and 18.5 × 18.5 cm respectively. The model with swallows and reeds is documented in : C. Engelen & M. Marx, La Sculpture en Belgique (à partir de 1830), 2006, p. 3236). Together, these pieces embody a compelling synthesis of artistic mastery and natural poetry—hallmarks of a transitional moment between 19th-century craftsmanship and the emerging aesthetic of modernity.