Exclusive complete antique Boch Frères Keramis toilet set “Empire” (4 items, 6 parts) — Belgium, c

Jug – Height 33cm, width 24cm. Bowl – Height 12.5cm, width 42cm.

Exclusive complete antique Boch Frères Keramis toilet set “Empire” (4 items, 6 parts) — Belgium, c. 1900 (Belle Époque)

1. Description in Excellent, royal-class and extremely rare complete 4-item (6-part) Belgian royal faience toilet set with the gorgeous and majestic “Empire” decor without gilding! Site antik1.com offers an exclusive and excellently preserved antique washing and toilet set (broc et cuvette / vanity set), crafted by one of Europe’s most famous and prestigious ceramic manufactories — Boch Frères Keramis in Belgium. This set belongs to the legendary “Empire” series and is executed in the expressive Empire and Neoclassical style aesthetic. The vessels are adorned with gorgeous, symmetrical floral motifs, laurel wreaths, ribbons, and arabesques in a deep, saturated green (pine/moss green) tone on a pure cream-white faience background. The vessels have no gilding, which particularly highlights the clarity of the green tone and the filigree precision of the lines.

About the Boch Frères manufactory and the “Empire” series:

Boch Frères Keramis (founded in 1841 in La Louvière, Belgium) is one of the finest European art faience and porcelain manufactories of all time, long famous for its excellent technological quality and artistic design, which regularly won top awards at world exhibitions. The “Empire” series, created around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, is an excellent interpretation of the majestic Empire style. The contrast of the dark green tone and white background used in this series imitates the aesthetics of expensive malachite and stone, which historically adorned only the most luxurious European aristocratic salons. Such complete sets in impeccable condition have become expressive and expensive antique rarities today.

• Manufacturer and origin: Boch Frères Keramis, La Louvière, Belgium (B.F.K.).
• Stamps and markings: Original green/blue underglaze stamp on the bottom with a crown, laurel wreath, and the series name “EMPIRE”, as well as the manufactory’s initials “B.F.K.”. Model and shape numbers are additionally impressed in the porcelain mass.
• Period: Belle Époque (Belle Époque), circa 1900.
• Material: Top-class antique Belgian faience (faïence).
• Set composition and dimensions (Total 4 items / 6 parts):
  1. Large water jug (Height: 33 cm, width: 24 cm; with an expressive, relief Art Nouveau-style spout and flowing body shape)
  2. Large wash bowl (Height: 12.5 cm, width: 42 cm; with a wide, wavy rim and gorgeous internal and external decor)
  3. Lidded soap dish (two-part): consists of a lower dish and a lid with a sculptural handle (2 parts in total).
  4. Lidded tooth powder jar (two-part): a small, cylindrical-shaped jar with a lid, historically used for storing hygiene items and tooth powder (2 parts in total).
• Condition: Excellent antique condition, which is an extraordinary rarity for fragile everyday items of this age and use. All 4 items and their parts (including both lids) are completely intact — without cracks, without chips, without hairline cracks, and without any signs of restoration. The glaze is shiny and clean, with a natural and exquisite time patina (crazing).

2. Description in

Antique Belgian Boch Frères Keramis 4-Piece Wash Set “Empire” (Un-gilded) – Belgium, c. 1900 (Belle Époque)

• Item: An exceptionally beautiful, complete and highly prestigious 4-piece (6-part in total) antique Belgian ceramic toilet, wash, and vanity set (broc et cuvette) of outstanding quality and high collector’s value.
• Design Note: This set features the elegant un-gilded version of the “Empire” series, where the fine details and the contrast of the rich forest green transferware on the warm ivory body are fully showcased without gold highlights.

About the Boch Frères Manufactory and the “Empire” Pattern:

The Boch Frères Keramis manufactory (established in 1841 in La Louvière, Belgium) is historically one of Europe’s most prestigious and technologically advanced ceramic makers, world-renowned for its exquisite art pottery and fine earthenware that captured multiple Grand Prix awards at international world fairs. The “Empire” series, introduced around the turn of the 20th century, is a highly celebrated design executing the regal Empire Revival (Néo-Empire) style. It beautifully captures the majestic spirit of the era with highly stylized neoclassical laurel wreaths, ribbons, and symmetrical foliate borders executed in a rich, deep forest green transferware over a creamy ivory-white body.

• Provenance: Boch Frères Keramis, La Louvière, Belgium.
• Markings: Stamped on the underside with the authentic underglaze factory stamp featuring a crown and laurel garland enclosing the pattern name “EMPIRE” and the initials “B.F.K.”. Includes impressed shape/model numbers in the clay.
• Period: Belle Époque era, circa 1900.
• Material: Finest quality Belgian earthenware (faience) with a lustrous glazed finish.
• Composition & Dimensions (4 functional pieces / 6 separate parts):
  1. Large Water Pitcher (Jug) (Height: 33 cm, width: 24 cm; featuring an elegant organic handle and a flared spout)
  2. Large Wash Basin (Bowl) (Height: 12.5 cm, width: 42 cm; with a wide, scalloped rim decorated both inside and out)
  3. 2-Piece Soap Dish (comprising the base dish and the lid with a sculpted handle)
  4. Lidded Tooth Powder Jar (2-piece) (elegant small cylindrical container with a lid, historically used for tooth powder)
• Condition: Excellent antique condition. An incredible survival for a set of this age and fragility — all 4 pieces (including both lids) are completely intact, structurally perfect, and free of cracks, chips, hairline fractures, or restorations. The glaze remains bright and lustrous, showing very fine, natural age crazing.