rare turn of the century french majolica crab tureen by Fives-Lille
- Worldwide Shipping Available
- In stock, ready to ship
- Backordered, shipping soon
One of our favourite finds to date is this incredible example of French majolica (or barbotine) by majolica manufacturer Fives-Lille.
Majolica at the turn of the century focused on colourful subject matter like fruit, flowers and animals.
This incredible piece is truly a rare find, as normally these figures were a part of a larger design on vases or plates.
Features stunning, realistic details and an impressive size that is almost more tureen than trinket box.
On the underside you’ll find the Fives-Lille hallmark.
In excellent antique condition with only a small, negligible chip on the underside.
Truly a rare heirloom piece, ready to cherish for years to come.
Sourced from an estate in Aix-en-Provence.
History of Fives-Lille
The story of the majolica of Fives-Lille begins which Antione Gustave De Bruyn, a fourth generation potter from Belgium. In 1864 he left Belgium and moved to Fives-Lille, a community in the northern part of France to make his fortune in the French pottery trade.
He began by building his own factory for the production of clay pipes and whistles. Soon the business was expanded to include earthenware and stoneware for daily use. Art pottery and the newly popular majolica were incorporated into the company's catalog in 1887. Soon majolica became the body of choice for the production of humidors, jardinières, vases and umbrella stands. The company's silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889, was a testament to its success.
oon the company was employing 300+ locals in the production of majolica, sanitary wares and art pottery. The company's large European majolica and art pottery export trade attracted the attention of designers throughout France. Among those who collaborated with the pottery were Louis Majorelle, the designer of extraordinary art nouveau furniture and Rene Lalique who was famous for his distinctive jewelry and glassware. It took the onset of WWI and a devastating fire in 1917 to cut short the company's success.
By the mid 1920's the company was back to production. It enjoyed prosperity with Art Deco pottery and ceramic clocks until the early 1930's when economic and political factors in Europe shut down the factory. Closed for the duration of WWII, the pottery opened again after the war. It was sold in 1950 and resumed limited production until 1962 when the company was dissolved.
dimensions: 8"W x 5.5"D x 2.5"H
please note there is a small chip on one of the legs
Getting It To You
Shipping & Local Pickup
We ship worldwide, and you're welcome to collect in Pickering.
At a Glance
3 to 7 business days
Free, in Pickering, Ontario
Worldwide, by trusted carriers
Final — please ask before you buy
Shipping Worldwide
Orders are processed within 3 to 7 business days, excluding weekends and holidays. You'll receive a notification with a tracking number once your order ships — please allow 48 hours for tracking to become active.
We ship French antiques and vintage European décor internationally, using Canada Post, FedEx, UPS, USPS, DHL, Canpar, and other local providers depending on the destination and the piece.
Where we can safely combine multiple purchases into one box, we will. Whether that's possible depends on the size and weight of each piece.
Local Pickup & Delivery
Pickup is free from our Pickering, Ontario shop at 1019 Toy Ave., Unit 5. Select local pickup at checkout and we'll be in touch to arrange a time.
We also offer local delivery. For small items, choose local delivery at checkout and the cost will be shown. For larger pieces marked local pickup preferred, email us for a quote.
We can hold an order for a maximum of 30 days. After that it is deemed abandoned and no refund is issued.
Need Longer Than 30 Days?
Contact us within 30 days of purchase to request an extension. If approved, storage is $100 CAD per 30 days, invoiced by email and payable within 5 business days. Unpaid invoices mean the order is deemed abandoned, and no refund is issued.
Oversized & Fragile Pieces
Items too large, heavy, or bulky for a standard carrier are marked local pickup preferred in the listing. Please email jolietteshipping@gmail.com with the item and your full address for a quote before you purchase.
All items are final sale, including any bought before a shipping quote was requested. We would far rather answer your questions first.
Duties, Taxes & Import Fees
International buyers are responsible for any duties, taxes, and import fees. US customers should expect tariffs collected on delivery. These are charged by the destination government, not by Joliette — we do not set them, receive them, or have any way to estimate them in advance.
Packages left unclaimed because duties were not paid cannot be refunded.
If Something Arrives Damaged
Email jolietteshipping@gmail.com within 30 days of delivery with photographs of the damage. We will work with you to make it right.
Unfortunately we are unable to help with damage reported more than 30 days after delivery.
See also our full Shipping Policy and Return Policy.
