P. GARNIER, ENGHIEN-FRANCE, VINTAGE BRANDY PITCHER, C.1934-38

This Pottery Decanter/Pitcher Was Executed By the Famous Garnier Liqueurs of Paris, France 1934-1938. This Decanter/Pitcher is Style # 82. These Pitchers were produced 1/10 Pint of various forms and colors in DENBAC, namely Apricot-plum, Cocoa Cream, Cocoa, Apricot brandy and Curaçao. This one was executed during the later part of the Arts & Crafts Movement.

COMMENT: These pottery decanter-jugs/pitchers were specifically made in various forms and colors for apricot-plum-coco cream-cocoa. This specific one is referred to as Style # 82. It is hexagonal shape. This particular factory made, in addition to their liqueurs, the pottery jugs/pitchers to bottle the various liqueurs for sale and export. P. Garnier of Enghien, France was world famous for its production of liqueurs. Today these pitchers are very desirable collectibles.

CONDITION: There is a chip near the handle on lip and a few wear points on the corners. Such condition faults are illustrated in the photos.

HISTORY OF PAUL GARNIER:

Paul Garnier (1832-1886) created his own liquors containing fruits and plants after having worked for Parisian manufacturers. In 1856, the manufacture of these products being allowed in Paris, Paul Garnier thus founded his own liquor company with BOUNDARY-LINE in 1859.

Its most known liquor, containing apricot, was called “the Apricot-plum”; it also produced a mint cream, curaçao, and cherry liquor. This business during all its lifespan was a very family oriented. It thrived quickly and its notoriety exceeded the borders of the country quickly; it exported mainly to Russia, the largest market for French liqueurs.

During the War of 1870, Free Prussia, this manufacturer was entirely destroyed. Paul Garnier thus decided to rebuild a new conditioning and manufacturing unit close to Paris, to ENGHIEN-LES-BAINS, where there were excellent fruit producers, especially of cherries and apricots. In 1877, it named JULIUS WINE and BROS. as their sole agent for the USA. This franchise agreement was renewed in 1964.

Considerable ceramic miniatures were exported from this country which is today a true source for those which seek these kinds of mignonettes. From 1974, the mark “GARNIER” became “KLEM”.  In 1980, the mark changed to the Company of BÉNÉDICTINE. Today distilling GARNIER has disappeared.

From 1910 to 1938 there were created containers called “pitchers” as well as small jugs often built by ceramists and French manufactures (DENBAC, REVOL, PONT-DES-VERNES). The miniatures often have numbers, model of manufacture, with their base plate as well as the signature of the spirit merchant or the manufacturer of the pottery.