Under the influence of Art Nouveau and later Art Deco, Charles Catteau renews shapes, decors and glazes at Boch Frères. He is therefore honored several times for the quality and design of his industrial creations. Shown is an elaborate dinner service designed by Charles Catteau for Boch Frères La Louvière. It is made of creamware (faience fine) and has a translucent shiny lead glaze on a creamy-yellow background. It has a simple but beautiful decoration of a ribbed edge with an orange and black concentric line all around, and in the flat it is rather decorated on the outside with an underglaze geometric pattern in light and dark blue in which a white dove, in light relief, and orange fruit. This decor is known as “COLOMBE”. It is partly printed, partly painted by hand.

The service consists of twelve large round plates, nine smaller round plates, one elongated saucer, a large round saucer, a round smaller bowl with lid and two handles, a large round bowl with lid and two handles, a large round bowl, and a sauce boat. They are all decorated with the “Colombe” motif. At the bottom, the objects are fully glazed and in the center they are marked with an imprinted “H6”, “21K” and “1J”, and stamped in underglaze blue (in black on the sauce boat) with the round mark of “Boch Fres, La Louvière Made in Belgium, Fabrication Blue, COLOMBES ”. This mark was used in 1931. They form a timeless decor.

Condition: the handle of the lid of the large bowl is glued (almost invisible), all other pieces perfect. NB: In the book “What is art nouveau and art deco worth” one dish is estimated at 150 – 175 euros!