Pair of perfume bottles depicting a man and a woman in medieval costume, height 35 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Artist

Jacob Petit

Two porcelain vases in the Rococo style, decorated with painting and gilding, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Two porcelain vases in the Rococo style, decorated with painting and gilding, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.

Very little is known about the life of Jacob Petit (1796-1868). The only official document that has survived to this day is his death certificate. Married around 1816, from a Parisian Jewish family, he changed his surname from Mordecai to that of his wife, Adelaide Petit, the daughter of a baker from Chantilly.

Two porcelain incense bowls on supports in the form of lion masks, decorated with gilding, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Two porcelain incense bowls on supports in the form of lion masks, decorated with gilding, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.

It is believed that Jacob Petit took drawing lessons from the painter Antoine-Jean Gros, a student of Jacques-Louis David. Fascinated by porcelain, he entered the Sèvres porcelain manufactory. The Victoria and Albert Museum contains drawings from his collection of ornaments and decor of interior items of different styles, including vases, candelabra, candlesticks, clocks, furniture, mirrors, and jewelry. The collection, published in 1824, was a success. Many of the designs became inspiration for both other artists and his own future work.

Jacob Petit owned a porcelain factory in Fontainebleau. During the successful period, up to 80 people worked there (according to other sources – up to 150). He had a ceramics studio in Paris.

Pair of porcelain vases decorated with fruit, height 65 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with fruit, height 65 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases in the Rococo style on stands decorated with painting and gilding, height 58 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases in the Rococo style on stands decorated with painting and gilding, height 58 cm, JACOB PETIT.

Since 1834, Jacob Petit has participated in numerous exhibitions, where he has received various awards in recognition of his innovative spirit, combining courage and creativity. Awarding him a bronze medal, the jury of 1839 confirmed: “The factory of M. Jacob Petit at Fontainebleau has quite a great popularity in the trade, based on the inexhaustible imagination of this manufacturer for the manufacture of a wide variety of products.”

Porcelain vase, richly decorated with gilt, with figured handles in the form of cornstalks, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT, circa 1845.
Porcelain vase, richly decorated with gilt, with figured handles in the form of cornstalks, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT, circa 1845.

The successful period was followed by failures. Poor inventory control and overexpansion proved to be a problem. With creditors demanding payment, Petit was forced to declare bankruptcy, although production continued at a reduced scale for the next decade. Vases decorated with flowers and figurines with porcelain lace in a technique developed by Jacob Petit were awarded a silver medal at the industrial goods fair in 1849. Despite the decline in production, Petit still exhibited his work at the 1851 exhibitions at the Crystal Palace in London and at the 1855 Universal Exhibition. In 1862, Petit retired, selling the business to his employee Jacquemin.

Pair of jugs with lids in the shape of monkeys in 18th century costume, height 24 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of jugs with lids in the shape of monkeys in 18th century costume, height 24 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Figured bottles in the form of a couple in ancient Scottish costumes, height 23 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Figured bottles in the form of a couple in ancient Scottish costumes, height 23 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Figured bottles in the form of a couple in Turkish costumes, height 34 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Figured bottles in the form of a couple in Turkish costumes, height 34 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of shaped turquoise bottles, height 26.7 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of shaped turquoise bottles, height 26.7 cm.
Pair of perfume bottles depicting a man and a woman in medieval costume, height 35 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of perfume bottles depicting a man and a woman in medieval costume, height 35 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of perfume bottles in chinoiserie style, height 21.5 cm, JACOB PETIT, circa 1840 1845.
Perfume bottles in chinoiserie style, height 21.5 cm, 1840-1845.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with Buldenezh decor and bouquets, height 30 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with Buldenezh decor and bouquets, height 30 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases with lids on stands, painted with birds and flowers, height 42 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases with lids on stands, painted with birds and flowers, height 42 cm.
Porcelain mantel clock Mameluc, height 41 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Porcelain mantel clock Mameluc, height 41 cm.
Porcelain cathedral teapot on four piece stand, height 24 cm, JACOB PETIT, circa 1840.
Porcelain cathedral teapot on four piece stand, height 24 cm, 1840.
Pair of jugs entwined with vines, height 23 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Jugs entwined with vines, height 23 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with flowers and figures of children, height 31 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with flowers and figures of children, height 31 cm.
Pair of jugs painted with garlands of flowers, height 35 cm, JACOB PETIT, around 1845.
Pair of jugs painted with garlands of flowers, height 35 cm, 1845.
Porcelain mantel clock in Rococo style, height 38 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Porcelain mantel clock in Rococo style, height 38 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with Buldenezh decoration with lids, height 44.5 cm, JACOB PETIT, around 1840.
Porcelain vases decorated with Buldenezh decoration with lids, height 44.5 cm, 1840.
Pair of porcelain vases in the form of a cornucopia, height 28.5 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases in the form of a cornucopia, height 28.5 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with molded flowers and birds, height 32.4 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases decorated with molded flowers and birds, height 32.4 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases painted with flowers on a white background, height 70 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Porcelain vases painted with flowers on a white background, height 70 cm.
Pair of porcelain jugs decorated with molded decorations of flowers and fruits, height 25.4 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain jugs decorated with molded decorations of flowers and fruits, height 25.4 cm.
Pair of porcelain jugs decorated with a frog and a salamander, height 23 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain jugs decorated with a frog and a salamander, height 23 cm.
Wine jug with Assyrian motifs, height 23 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Wine jug with Assyrian motifs, height 23 cm.
Pair of porcelain vases, painted with flowers and gilding, height 39 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of porcelain vases, painted with flowers and gilding, height 39 cm.
Porcelain inkwell in the form of a canape, length 20.5 cm, JACOB PETIT, around 1850.
Porcelain inkwell in the form of a canape, length 20.5 cm, 1850.
Pair of potpourri vases, decorated with gilt and painted with pastoral scenes in the style of Boucher, height 31 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Pair of potpourri vases, decorated with gilt and painted with pastoral scenes in the style of Boucher, height 31 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Porcelain vase painted with flowers on a white background, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.
Porcelain vase painted with flowers on a white background, height 51 cm, JACOB PETIT.