Contemporary Ceramique La Borne

 

Magen_H_Gallery_JEAN-AND-JACQUELINE-LERAT---1969

Jean and Jacqueline Lerat, 1969

  Magen H Gallery

 

 

7 centuries of pottery crafts

 

La Borne has been an active pottery center since the 13th century. Known for centuries as a “Village de Potiers,” La Borne is nestled in the environs of lush forests, over 3000ft above sea level in the Berry province of Central France. Currently it is the epicenter for around 100 active potters and their workshops, drawn to the area for its rich tradition of woodfired stoneware and a pioneering creative spirit. A Contemporary Ceramics Center has also been established in La Borne since 2010 that provides workshops, exhibition space and the ability to liaise with local potters and tap into their rich clay art tradition. Close by are other pottery centres such as Nevers and Gien and it’s also nearby beautiful middle-age city of Bourges

In the 15th century, the La Borne potters mastered the technique of firing the excellent local clays to a temperature of 1280C to create waterproof qualities for their pots. The local fine anthracite clays react wonderfully to long firings with wood, possibly due to it containing iron pyrites. This led to the production of quality utilitarian wares and other hand-thrown and sculpted forms. A pottery-making tradition in La Borne flourished over the centuries, with technical skills and knowledge being passed down to new generations of potters.

 

Centre-Céramique-Contemporaine-de-La-Borne---Patrice-Régnier

Expo au Centre Céramique Contemporaine de La Borne

Photo – Patrice Régnier

The early part of the 20th century saw a decline in demand for the La Borne wares with the popularity of new materials like aluminum and glass, with streamlined designs, used for the creation of utilitarian wares. Numerous workshops closed down, and the huge wood-burning kilns fell into disuse. While in 1914, 14 furnaces were in operation, by 1950 there remained only four. Simultaneously, a renaissance was occurring through the wave of new designers, ceramicists and sculptors that came to settle in La Borne during the German Occupation n the 1940‘s. These innovative artists succeeded in uniting modern art with the traditional stoneware, by highlighting its strength, earthy colors and textures with revolutionary shapes and glazes. This inspired  a liberating approach to the ceramic arts that has continued to develop throughout the 50‘s and 60‘s and beyond.

This started in 1941 with the arrival of artists Jean and Jacqueline Lerat, who came to study traditional ceramic techniques and eventually adapted this into a freer artistic expression. Other French and international artists such as Paul Beyer, André Rozay and Vassil Ivanoff arrived in 1946 followed by Pierre Mestre, Elisabeth Joulia, Yves et Monique Mohy, Anne Kjaersgaard, Jean Linard and Claudine Monchaussé coming to join this Post War ceramic movement. They made a significant contribution to elevating the language of ceramics design into a serious art form.
In 1987 the Musée de la Poterie, was founded to protect the local heritage, and has managed to assemble a remarkable collection of ancient items such as salting jars, oil containers, pitchers, finials and vases that were made locally.
La Borne still continues to be a thriving pottery precinct and a collection of pieces from the local  artists are on display below.

 

France-La-Borne-pottery atelier

La Borne’s wooded laneways are scattered with lots of pottery workshops.

 

 

Nearby to la borne - Sancerre-vineyards

Sancerre vineyards are nearby to La Borne

 

 

1838_Magen_H_Gallery_Yves-Mohy-1974

Yves Monty, 1974

 

 

 

Sculpture-(1990)---Elisabeth-Joulia---Photographie-de-Thibault-Breton---Mouvements-Modernes

Elisabeth Joulia

1990

Photographie de Thibault Breton

 

 

 

Alicia-Rochina ceramic dish

Ceramic berry bowl – Alicia Rochina

 

 

 

Alicia-Rochina--garden planter

Alicia Rochina

 

 

 

Anne-Reverdy - charger with motif bust of woman in black

Anne Reverdy

 

 

 

Bernard-David - strong textured vessel

Bernard David

 

 

 

Brigitte-Marionneau-h-36cm -

‘At the edge of landscape II’ –7 series, Brigitte Marionneau

2014  height-36cm

 

 

 

Brigitte-Marionneau-Pascal-Vangysel

‘Mask, 3-III Series’ – Brigitte Marionneau

2010  h.32cm

photo – Pascal Vangysel

 

 

Charlotte-poulsen-Giraffe sculpture

Charlotte Poulsen

 

 

Charlotte-poulsen--ceramic-animal

Charlotte Poulsen

 

 

 

Christine-Limosino-Favretto ceramic dish

Christine Limosino Favretto

 

 

 

Claude-Gaget - ceramique tree sculpture

Claude Gaget

 

 

 

Claude-Voisin--

Claude Voisin, Bourges

After more than 3 years of experimental theater, jazz dance, African dance, and after more than 30 years of architecture, Claude Voisin egan creating ceramic sculptures in 2000.

 

 

Claude-Voisin---ceramique- sculptures

Claude Voisin

 

 

Claude-Voisinceramic-sculptures

Claude Voisin

 

 

 

Claudie-Guillaume-Charnaux triangular ceramic box

Claudie Guillaume Charnaux, Morogues

 

 

 

Corinne-Decoux--textured-sculptural-ceramic

Corinne Decoux, Saint Satur

 

 

 

Corinne-Decoux--studio-vessels

Corinne Decoux, Saint Satur

 

 

La-Borne-old pottery kiln

La Borne kiln

 

 

dalloun-2011

Dalloun, La Borne

Dalloun likes to  explore a forgotten technique which is very very old (2500 years): sigillata earth – the many opportunities for cooking and the infinite variety of wild clays, provides a wealth of colors and tones, thanks to the iron oxide present in the earth.

 

 

Dalloun--infinite-variety-of-wild-clays,-provides-a-wealth-of-colors-and-tones,-thanks-to-the-iron-oxide-present-in-the-earth

Dalloun, La Borne

 

 

 

Dalloun-French contemporary ceramic cup

Dalloun, La Borne

 

 

 

David-Louveau-de-La-Guigneraye ceramiste a La Borne

David Louveau

Photos Pascal Vangysel

 

 

 

David_Louveau_punchong vessel French ceramique

David Louveau – punchong vessel

 

 

 

David-Louveau-de-La-Guigneraye8

David Louveau

 

 

 

David-Whitehead-- ceramic sculpture

David Whitehead

 

 

 

Eric-Astoul----abstract sculptural ceramic

Eric Astoul

Technique: Wood Baking anagama, 1300c, 5-6 days

Photo – Pascal Vangysel

 

 

Eric-Astoul---photo by Pascal-Vangysel

Eric Astoul

Photo – Pascal Vangysel

 

 

Eric-Astoul-The-coloring-materials-and-parts-are-given-by-conducting-cooking-with-wood-oven-at-1300-°,-long-from-5-to-6-days

Eric Astoul

 

 

 

Eric-Astoul--www.astouleric.fr

Eric Astoul

www.astouleric.fr

 

 

Francine-Michel contemporary pottery

Francine Michel

 

 

 

Françoise-Blain-raku vessel

Raky vessel – Françoise Blain, Crézancy en Sancerre

 

 

François Maréchal-photo by Pascal-Vangysel

François Maréchal

 

 

 

Georges Sybesma-raku vase

Georges Sybesma

 

 

 

Georges-Sybesma-----La Borne ceramique

Georges Sybesma

 

 

 

Georges-Sybesma----incised surface vase

Georges Sybesma

 

 

 

Lucien-Petit raku ceramic sculpture

Lucien Petit

 

 

 

Lulu-Rozay pitcher

Lulu Rozay pitchet

 

 

Maya-Micenmacher-Rousseau-Photo by-Pascal-Vangysel

Maya Micenmacher Rousseau,  Ivoy le Pré

 

 

 

Nicolas-Rousseau-----French ceramic figurine

Nicolas Rousseau,  Ivoy le Pré

 

 

Nicolas-Rousseaul

Nicolas Rousseau

 

 

 

Pep-Gomez

Pep Gomez, Les Girardins

 

 

Seugho-Yang ceramic

Seugho Yang, Montigny

 

 

 

Seugho-Yang--teapot

Ceramic teapot – Seugho Yang, Montigny

 

 

Norwegian potter Svein-Hjorth-Jensen

 Svein Hjorth Jensen

 

 

 

Svein-Hjorth-Jensen----ceramic tile

 Svein Hjorth Jensen

 

 

Sylvie Rigal-ceramic bowl

Sylvie Rigal, Sens Beaujeu

 

 

Sylvie-Rigal ceramique sculpture

Sylvie Rigal, Sens Beaujeu

 

 

 

Viola Hering ceramic tray with rooster motif

Viola Hering

 

 

 

Hervé-Rousseau ceramic sculpture

Hervé Rousseau

 

 

Hervé-Rousseau----ceramic-sculpture

Hervé Rousseau

 

 

 

Isabelle-Coeur nude female sculpture

Isabelle Coeur

 

 

Jean-Guillaume-Man-With-Tie-photo-Claude-Friess

‘Man With Tie’ – Jean Guillaume

photo – Claude Friess

 

 

Isabelle-Pammachius ceramic tumblers

Isabelle Pammachius

Photo – Pascal Vangysel

 

 

 

Isabelle-Pammachius-

Isabelle Pammachius

 

 

 

Jacques-Laroussinie-Petite-Chapelle ceramic sculpture

‘Petite Chapelle’ – Jacques Laroussinie

 

 

 

Karina-Schneider raku ceramic bottle

Karina Schneider, La Gibonnière

 

 

 

Karina-Schneider--lidded ceramic vessel

Karina Schneider, La Gibonnière

 

 

Jean-Luc-Belleville-Pascal-Vangysel Dragon standing on a ball sculpture

Dragon – Jean Luc Belleville

Photo – Pascal Vangysel

 

 

 

Labbrigitte- ceramic dog figurine

Labbrigitte

 

 

Labbrigitte--colorful ceramic birthday cake

Labbrigitte

 

 

Labbrigitte--ceramic figurine

Labbrigitte

 

 

Suzanne-Daigeler footed crescent moon ceramic vessel

Suzanne Daigeler footed ceramic vessel

 

 

 

la_borne-Cathederal-de-Linard - mosaic facade, sculpture garden

‘Cathederal de Linard’ with mosaic facade –   La Borne 

 

More information on all the above artists can be seen here

La Borne Ceramique Contemporaine website

 

 

 

 

 Next post – The Art of convo

 

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