Jacob Petit (French, 1796 to 1868)
Jacob Petit was the greatest exponent of innovation in nineteenth century Paris porcelain. A self-taught painter, he launched a modest porcelain manufacturing business in 1830. By 1839 Petit employed about 200 craftsmen and enjoyed great success. His prodigious production included vases, urns, clocks, figures, inkwells and perfume bottles. Of particular interest are the figural veilleuses, or bedside tea warmers, known as personnages. These brightly painted beauties can be found in the form of exotic characters like Chinese noblemen, sultans and sultanas and fortune tellers, or more mundane subjects, such as nuns or street vendors. Each one is made in several parts, the top being the teapot, and the hollow bottom with an opening in the back which conceals the tiny porcelain oil lamp or godet.
Although most Paris pieces are unmarked, (except for some scratch marks on the glazed bottoms), Jacob Petit’s factory usually marked its wares on the bottom with an underglaze blue “J.P.”.