Franz Collection | Papillon Butterfly | Salt & Pepper Shaker Set | FZ00657 | Designed by Jen Woo | Sculpted by Yeh Fen | c.2004

Functional objects rarely insist on attention — these were made to.

Franz Collection, founded in Taiwan, established its international reputation through porcelain that combines functional design with finely resolved sculptural detail. The Papillon Butterfly series — among the earliest and most recognisable of the company’s output — was designed by Jen Woo and sculpted by Yeh Fen, and received international recognition including “Best in Gift” at the New York International Gift Fair. Production draws on the longstanding ceramic traditions of Jingdezhen.

Each shaker is formed as a rounded teardrop body that rises into a broad, concave wing-like opening — a form that suggests the butterfly rather than directly depicting it. The glaze transitions from white into soft celadon at the base.

Applied in relief across each piece is a narcissus stem with white petals and yellow centres, accompanied by curling green leaves. A butterfly with warm orange wings and brown markings rests along the stem, rendered with precise sculptural definition. The two shakers are conceived as a mirror-image pair, designed to face inward when placed together.

Salt apertures are pierced in a two-hole format to the upper interior face of each shaker, integrated discreetly into the design.

Both pieces are in mint, unused condition. There are no chips, cracks, crazing, or losses. All applied elements remain intact. The original Franz presentation box is included and shows only light storage wear to the lid edges. The Franz Porcelain Collection pamphlet is present.

• Grade: Mint (unused)
• Maker: Franz Collection
• Series: Papillon Butterfly
• Pattern: FZ00657
• Designer: Jen Woo
• Sculptor: Yeh Fen
• Form: Salt and pepper shaker set (pair)
• Material: Porcelain
• Date: c.2004
• Height: Approximately 7 cm each (slight variation between pieces)
• Weight: 132 g (combined)
• Marks: Franz marks to base (standard)
• Includes: Original Franz presentation box; Franz pamphlet

Collector Appeal

An early Papillon Butterfly issue, this set represents one of the less commonly encountered functional forms within the Franz range. Complete examples with original packaging are increasingly scarce, particularly outside primary retail markets. The mirrored design and sculptural treatment elevate the set beyond utility, making it equally suited to display or inclusion within a broader Papillon service collection.

What is made with this degree of care argues — quietly but convincingly — that even the smallest objects deserve to be considered.