Vallauris - Robert Picault (1919-2000) - Cup - Faience - 4 cups and saucers

Robert Picault (1919-2000)

Set of 4 cups and 4 saucers

En faience

A decorative element featuring green and brown stripes.

Signed beneath each piece.

Height: 18.5cm
Diameter: 13.7cm

Very good condition


French ceramicist in Vallauris

Robert Picault contributed to the revival of culinary ceramics by updating traditional local shapes decorated with lines and geometric patterns. His slogan: 'From the kitchen to the table.'

Son's identity style has enjoyed great success and continues to adorn the table today. His personal pieces are sought after by art collectors.

An alumnus of the École des Arts Appliqués de Paris, Robert Picault arrived in Vallauris in 1946. He founded the Callis workshop with his schoolmate Roger Capron (1922-2006), which was later joined by Jean Derval (1925-2010).

In this village of a hundred potters, they mingle with neighboring ceramists André Baud, the four potters, and among others, the Madoura workshop, where he associated with the famous painter Picasso from 1949 to 1955. He also befriended Jean Cocteau, Fernand Léger, Louis Aragon, and Elsa Triolet.

At the Callis workshop, Robert spins the pieces that will be decorated by Roger Capron. Jean Derval is responsible for distributing and presenting them at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs (SAD) in Paris. In 1948, the Picault-Capron duo decided to part ways, each gaining independence as a creator.
In May 1948, Robert Picault then opened his own workshop (the Robert Picault Pottery, chemin du Fournas in Vallauris). Initially, his pieces were covered with a monochrome green, brown, or black glaze, usually undecorated. The firing was done in a wood-fired kiln (later, in 1954, it would be a propane kiln). His goal was to reinvent and modernize traditional culinary pottery. In early 1949, he produced a semi-industrial culinary faience with a white background, featuring simple geometric frieze patterns (circles, crosses, lines), as well as bird, fish, and plant motifs.

Enameled pieces are most often bichromates, with traces of copper oxide for green and iron oxide for brown.
For his personal pieces, he prefers matte metallic black with animal and women motifs. The blue appears starting in 1955.

With this new style, Robert Picault signs a well-known and recognizable signature for all. A timeless style that still appeals in the 21st century.

Its workshop is growing and now employs up to 25 people. The culinary products are distributed in major stores like Primavera and Galeries Layettes, but also exported to Europe (Switzerland, Belgium, England) and the USA. Robert Picault will also manufacture tiles for the building industry (floors and walls).

In 1962, he established another ceramic factory in Sardinia. He returned to France in 1966 to continue producing tableware for his factory in Vallauris and for the Longchamp earthenware company.

Text by Christine Lavenu (published on May 21, 2024)
Art-angelux