French Majolica Cicada Wall Pocket Vase Orange Black Pottery 1509268

French Majolica Cicada Wall Pocket

Wall pockets in the form of cicadas were a popular decorative output of French majolica workshops from the late nineteenth century onward, and this piece continues that tradition with confident craftsmanship. A French Majolica Cicada Wall Pocket, it is modeled fully in the round as a resting cicada with wings folded flat along the body, intended to hang flat against a wall with a drainage or hanging hole visible on the underside at the head end.

The glaze work is bold and graphic. The head and thorax are covered in a deep gloss black with a broad amber-orange band across the pronotum, a detail that reads clearly from a distance. The wings are rendered in a warm grey-beige ground divided by raised black veining that faithfully replicates the membrane cell structure of actual cicada wings. The overall surface has a high-gloss fired glaze typical of majolica technique. The underside, visible in one photo, shows the raw bisque interior with some age-related discoloration, kiln spatter marks, and two small circular holes at the head, consistent with a wall-hanging fixture. No chips or cracks are visible on the exterior glazed surfaces, though the underside shows the usual unglazed workshop finish with minor soiling accumulated over time.

The piece measures approximately 20.5cm in length / 8.1" long, with a width of approximately 9cm / 3.5" across the wings at their widest point. These dimensions are drawn from the seller's stated measurement and photographic estimation.

A piece of this type appeals both to collectors of French majolica pottery and to those assembling nature-themed or Provencal-style interiors. The cicada is an iconic symbol of southern France, and wall pockets in this form are actively sought by collectors of regional French ceramics.

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