Offered by Galerie Vauclair
This baluster-shaped amphora is the work of the ceramist Clément Massier, who draws here inspiration from Renaissance forms, which were the subject of renewed interest in the 19th century. The motifs also refer to ancient Rome; there are vine leaves on the handles, but also arabesques and scrolls on the frieze running along the body of the vase. The colour of this piece is also of significance regarding the renewed interest in the Ancient period, a deep red whose glazes sublimate the whole piece.
The Massier family had been living in Vallauris since the 18th century. The following century saw the emergence of a high-quality art ceramic that favoured aesthetics over utility. This development was made possible by the systematic use of plaster molds that allowed the diffusion of models and the use of glazed earthenware that enabled a wide range of colours.
After setting up his workshop in Vallauris for a while, Clément Massier settled in 1883 in Golfe-Juan, a privileged place for tourists. He was also the instigator of the creation of a Fine Arts school in Vallauris to teach drawing to workers in ceramic workshops.
From 1886 onwards, he developed an important and high-quality glossy ceramic and surrounded himself with brilliant collaborators. He gave this traditional technique its letters of nobility and was at the origin of a real industrial and artistic revolution that gave a new and decisive impetus to the production of ceramics in Vallauris.