Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1824-1887) in Minton Nymph carrying an amphora, 1878 in polychrome glazed ceramic. The nymph, dressed in a modest veil, is holding a turquoise amphora with a Greek frieze. She is seated on a wicker basket from which bunches of grapes are falling. Signed "A.Carrier" on the terrace. Stamped "Minton" on reverse and numbered "1760", "A0". Height: 69 cm. (chip on neck) Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse for Minton, 1878. A polychrome glazed majolica vase figuring a scantily clad nymph seated on a wicker basket overflowing with grapes while supporting an amphora. After a modest but promising start to his career at the Salon of 1850, Albert Carrier-Belleuse crossed the Channel to work at the Manufacture de Minton at the invitation of its artistic director, Léon Arnoux. His recruitment was in line with the British government's political will to promote national industry, even if the artists came from neighboring countries. Carrier-Belleuse's first piece, "La Fontaine de Galathée", was presented at the Crystal Palace in 1851, and gained public recognition. Thanks to the research of Arnoux, who "perfected a modern majolica launched by Herbert Minton in 1851" (Gilles Grandjean, "Carrier-Belleuse. Le maître de Rodin", 2014, p. 21-22), Carrier-Belleuse modernized ornamental sculpture. His work at Minton continued into the 1880s. He then worked for the Manufacture de Sèvres, which was delighted to welcome a talent capable of organizing such a large workshop.