Vintage French Ceramic Pitcher by Le Grand Chêne (circa 1950s)

Vintage French ceramic pitcher by Le Grand Chêne (circa 1950s). A stunning piece with sensual form and oak leaf motif on the front and matching, painted handle in the back. The matt chalk white colour provides the 'art gallery' backdrop for the painted works on the body of the piece. In good vintage condition commensurate with age. Their trademark, stylised oak leaf is on the underside along with their pottery's town, Vallauris. Upon request a video may be provided.

About the Artist: L'Atelier du Grand Chêne was founded in Vallauris, France in 1948 by Odette Roche-Gourju (1904-1954) and Ljuba Naumovitch (1898-1955). These two painters, trained notably at the Paris Ecole des Arts Décoratifs, turned out to be excellent potters after the war. They set up their pottery near a large oak tree - hence the name 'Le Grand Chêne'. There were never more than five employees including their son, Jacques Innocenti, who set up his own pottery in 1952. During the 1950s, they produced two distinct types of pottery: production runs of everyday objects decorated on a white background with animals, birds, flowers or women, and one-off pieces where the utilitarian dimension disappeared in favour of sculptural considerations. Their training as painters and their fondness for the work of De Chirico are evident in plates, dishes and vases with metaphysical decoration. After the death of Odette and Ljuba in a tragic car accident in 1955 between Nice and Antibes, their son Jacques Innocenti took over Le Grand Chêne. Their maker's mark is a stylised oak tree drawn with a brush under the glaze. (Ref: La Céramique Française des Années 50, by Pierre Staudenmeyer). 

Dimensions:

H 20.5 cm / 8.1"

W 13 cm / 5.1"

D 10 cm / 3.9"