Ceramics – French

The realm of French ceramics, an illustrious segment of the applied and decorative arts, reflects a storied tradition that intertwines functionality with aesthetic splendour. From the delicate porcelain of Limoges to the robust earthenware of Provence, French ceramics embody a rich tapestry of artistic excellence. Esteemed for their innovative shapes, sublime glazes, and intricate hand-painted motifs, these creations are not mere vessels but cultural artifacts, telling tales of eras where artisans pushed boundaries to blend utility with sumptuous decoration. As such, they serve as a testament to France’s enduring legacy in elevating everyday objects to objects d’art, influencing design sensibilities and enriching domestic spaces with a touch of elegance and artistry.

Ernest Chaplet featured image

Ernest Chaplet (1835 – 1909) was a French ceramicist, an early studio potter’ who mastered slip decoration, rediscovered stoneware, and conducted copper-red studies. From 1882 to 1885, he was the director of Charles Haviland’s workshop to study decorative processes, where he collaborated with artists such as Paul Gauguin. He eventually moved to Choisy-le-Roi, where he focused on porcelain glaze studies.Read More →

Edmond Lachenal featured image

Lachenal joined Théodore Deck’s studio in 1870 and later became director. He established his studio in Malakoff, near Paris, in 1880 and Chatillon-sous-Bagneux, France, in 1887. He decorated his pottery with stylized figures, landscapes, greenery, and flowers in the ‘Persian style’ influenced by Deck. Read More →

Jean Carriès featured image

Jean Carriès was a French sculptor and ceramicist who expressed his subjects through unconventional approaches that deviated from mainstream academic conventions. Jean Carriès discovered the art of pottery and embraced it, using wax and terracotta to create unique shapes and vivid glazes.Read More →

Haviland French Porcelain featured image

Haviland Porcelain, founded by David Haviland in Limoges, thrived through shrewd business strategies, overcoming adversity, and prioritizing employee welfare.Read More →

Joseph Mougin decided to become a ceramicist after seeing an exhibition of Jean Carriès’s pottery in 1894. He set up a studio and a kiln in Montrouge with the help of sculptor friend Lemarquier and his brother Pierre Mougin.Read More →

Gien Pottery featured image

Gien Pottery. This company is often known simply as Gien Pottery, after its location in that city. It was established in 1822 by Merlin Hall, theRead More →

Émile Diffloth featured image

In 1899, he became artistic director of Kéramis, Belgian pottery owned by Boch Freres in La Louviere. In c1910, he moved to University City, Missouri, to work for Taxile Doat as a ceramics teacher at the School of Ceramic Art. He went back to France. He belonged to the Société des Artistes Françaises.Read More →