Antique French Pillivuyt Trompe L’Oeil Mallard Duck Pâté Terrine

A wonderfully charming antique French Pillivuyt porcelain pâté terrine, made in the early 1900s and designed in the delightful trompe l’oeil tradition. Shaped as a mallard duck nestled into a golden-brown pastry crust, this petite piece is one of those unexpected French antiques that makes you smile the moment you see it. Pillivuyt produced a variety of porcelain terrines inspired by the hunt and created for serving game pâtés and terrines at an elegant French table. This type terrine was originally designed and made for royalty and nobility in the eighteenth century as an ingenious solution for pastry-less tarts and pies during France's flour shortage. This is a particularly beautiful example, with lovely porcelain detail and so much personality. I love the way the duck appears to emerge from its pastry crust — such a clever bit of French tableware that is as decorative as it is whimsical. It is a wonderful size to tuck among your antique French pottery and linens on a kitchen shelf, or bring to the table when entertaining. In exceptionally good antique condition, this adds instant personality to a collected home. Measures 7" x 3-3/4" x 4-3/4"h.