Lot Essay
Narcisse Vivien is recorded as a meticulous painter of birds often in association with platinum grounds. His work is known to have been exhibited at the Paris Universelle Exposition of 1878, and must have included this pair. In 1883 Vivien is recorded at 85 Boulevard Voltaire. In that same year he displayed a faïence work at the Salon de la Société des artistes français. A similar single example signed by F. Gardo and made for the 1878 exposition was sold Christie's, New York, 26 October 2004, lot 191.