French Art Pottery

French art pottery underwent a massive transformation towards the end of the 1800s. Like most art pottery movements, ceramics in France was originally a functional venture - little pottery was made to be art.

Thanks to the Arts and Crafts Movement and the sensation of Art Nouveau, French art pottery was born in the early 1900s. It is characterized by innovative use of color and an emphasis on uniqueness and craftsmanship.

Considered the father of French art pottery, Ernest Chaplet (1835-1909) pioneered a plethora of techniques, glazes, and styles, and worked at a myriad of famous potteries around the country. Chaplet is well-known for utilizing the very difficult-to-obtain “oxblood” glaze, and he even won an award for this at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1889. Though his original pieces have gained renown for their brilliance in the early yeast of art pottery, his studio's later works (pioneered by his son Emile Lenoble) are acclaimed for their Art Deco designs.

French art pottery often had influences from around the world, and a few of its leading figures had a particular interest in Oriental pottery. Renowned French art potters such as Jean-Joseph Carries (1855-1894) and Auguste Delaherche (1847-1940) combined Art Nouveau with Chinese or Japanese ceramic styles to produce very specialized pieces. Clement Massier (1844-1917) had Spanish influences, while later craftsmen were swayed by the Symbolism movement.

True to the Art Nouveau movement, commercial pottery had limited success in the history of French art pottery. The novel French works you find here or around the world can usually be traced back to a single French craftsman, often a master of pottery, design, painting, glazing, or all of the above.

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Learn more about French Art Pottery

French art pottery underwent a massive transformation towards the end of the 1800s. Like most art pottery movements, ceramics in France was originally a functional venture - little pottery was made to be art.

Thanks to the Arts and Crafts Movement and the sensation of Art Nouveau, French art pottery was born in the early 1900s. It is characterized by innovative use of color and an emphasis on uniqueness and craftsmanship.

Considered the father of French art pottery, Ernest Chaplet (1835-1909) pioneered a plethora of techniques, glazes, and styles, and worked at a myriad of famous potteries around the country. Chaplet is well-known for utilizing the very difficult-to-obtain “oxblood” glaze, and he even won an award for this at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1889. Though his original pieces have gained renown for their brilliance in the early yeast of art pottery, his studio's later works (pioneered by his son Emile Lenoble) are acclaimed for their Art Deco designs.

French art pottery often had influences from around the world, and a few of its leading figures had a particular interest in Oriental pottery. Renowned French art potters such as Jean-Joseph Carries (1855-1894) and Auguste Delaherche (1847-1940) combined Art Nouveau with Chinese or Japanese ceramic styles to produce very specialized pieces. Clement Massier (1844-1917) had Spanish influences, while later craftsmen were swayed by the Symbolism movement.

True to the Art Nouveau movement, commercial pottery had limited success in the history of French art pottery. The novel French works you find here or around the world can usually be traced back to a single French craftsman, often a master of pottery, design, painting, glazing, or all of the above.

Read more...
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