Charles Catteau – Art Deco ceramics master

Art Deco vase by Charles Catteau

 

Franco-Belgian ceramist Charles Catteau could be regarded as one of the most versatile ceramic artists of his generation, especially for the style of Art Deco. Catteau advanced the forms, techniques and decoration of modern ceramics, creating an exceptionally original, new and decorative genre.

Hired as a ceramic decorator in Ecole Nationale de Sèvres from 1903 to 1904, he began producing designs that were rather traditional, based on the observation of nature, and showing the influence of Japonism, characterised by pure lines and meticulous details. From 1904 to 1906, he worked in Nymphemburg Porzellan Manufaktur near Munich, a factory specialising in new hand painting procedures under a slip, as well as Art Nouveau.

Rare polychrome design vessel with geometric patterns - Charles Catteau Art Deco

In 1907  he finally moved to Louvière in Belgium where he was promoted to head of the decoration department at Boch Freres Keramis at the age of 27.  This is where most of his exceptional talent came to the fore especially during the period between the two World Wars. Influenced by the great creative art movements of the time (Africanism, Japonism, Cubism, Abstraction) and his observation of nature gave him inspiration for his designs, with the  integration of  plants, stylized animals and geometric motifs. The international avant-garde movements were also an influence leading to his use of purely abstract, geometric designs and intense colours. Charles Catteau was incredibly resourceful and  explored various harmonies of form, techniques, designs, colours, shades, topics, variants and influences. In this way Catteau became a representative par excellence of Art Deco designs, giving it his personal touch. He was instrumental in introducing technical innovations during the 20’s and 30’s to aid mass production of ceramic products and expand availabiltity of affordable products. During difficult times in Europe, he created vivid, colourful, orignal and uplifting ceramic wares.

Charles Cotteau motto was “Art for All” and he also taught decorative painting at the School of Industrial in Louvière. In 1925 he obtained international recognition in the exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris. which helped raise the profile of Boch Freres. He remained at the company until he retired to Nice in 1946 .

The renaissance of his artistic legacy is largely due to the popularity of the many collectible aspects of his creations.

Ovoid vase - Boch Feres & Charles Catteau

 Three-colour repetitive design with flying eagles – stoneware.

( Pierre Berge & Associates )

Crackle glaze Art Deco vase by Charles Catteau

 Vase in enameled earthenware, slender shape with slightly opened neck.

 

Art Deco ceramic set - Charles Catteau

An octagonal and a pair of four-sided vases with geometric decorations in black, white, ocher, yellow and turquoise to designs.

 

Ovoid Art Deco vase by Charles Catteau

 Vase ovoid earthenware decorated with white crackle brown and black pads and triple sinuous brown.

Baluster Art Deco vase - Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau

Kunsthandel Nobra-»-Blog

 

 

Vase with crane motif - Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau White Cranes ovoid vase

Art Deco ovoid vase by Charles Catteau

 Ovoid vase using polychrome enamel on cracked beige background by Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau art deco vase

A Boch Freres Keramis baluster Art Deco vase designed by Charles Catteau, circa 1925

 

Charles Catteau Art Deco vases

Polychrome designs with geometric patterns – matt enamels – 1927

 

 

Charles Catteau tumbler

Vase ceramic bowl decorated with stained black gold galloping deer in a forest.

 

 

Carved surface vase - Charles Catteau

Large Art Deco & Art Nouveau styled vase – Boch Freres

Charles Catteau polychrome Art Deco vase

Charles Catteau Art Deco glazed earthenware hexagonal vase for Boch Frères Keramic, circa 1925

 

 

 

Charles Catteau africanist/art deco vase

 Africanist sandstone and satin enamels of ovoid form, decorated stylized plant motifs on the entire surface.

Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau art deco vase

 Scailmont vase by Charles Catteau

Polychrome Art Deco vase - Charles Catteau

Classic Art Deco vase – Jan Wind design for Charles Catteau

 

Art Deco pottery by Charles Catteau

 Polychrome designs with geometric patterns – stoneware.

 

 

Charles Catteau baluster vase

 Antique Belgian Majolica Boch Freres / Charles Catteau Art Deco Gourd Shaped Vase

 

 

Boch Freres Charles Catteau vases

Charles Catteau & Boch Frères Keramis – 1937

 

Egyptian Art Deco vase - Charles Catteau

Charales Catteau ovoid porcelain finish stoneware vase with a rimmed neck

Art Deco vase set-Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau – Boch Freres  Two enamel-decorated vases in cuerda seca.

 

Art Deco cup - Charle Catteau

Art Deco cup with stylized floral motifs -Charles-Catteau 1927

 

Charles Catteau art deco vase

French Art Deco vase by Charles Catteau

 

Love birds vase - Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau love birds vase

 

 

Charles Catteau africanist vase

 A large vase oblong black glazed stoneware incised geometric decoration of deer grazing.

 

 

Charles Catteau Cubist Art Deco vase

Geometric cubist style Art Deco vase -Charles Catteau 1929

 

 

Crackle glaze ovoid vase by Charles Catteau

Art Deco crackle glaze vase – Charles Catteau

 

large ovoid vase by Charles Catteau

Art Deco ovoid vase – Charles Catteau

 

Cubist Art Deco ovoid vase - Charles Catteau

Art Deco cubist stylized sailboats and seagulls ovoid vase – Charles Catteau 1930

 

Art Deco vase with a deer motif - Charles Catteau

Vase with moving deer motif

 

 

Art Deco six sided vase

Art Deco vase designed by Maurice Delvaux for Charles Catteau

 

 

Exotic-floral vase by Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau for Boch Freres 1936

 

catteau_photo

Charles Catteau

410px-455px-charles-catteau-deco-vase

Green and gold Art Deco vase

Updated – 16/4/2013

More innovative Art Deco by Charles Catteau :

Charles Catteau Art Deco vase geometric patterns

Catteau Art Deco vase geometric patterns – 1929

Charles Catteau Deco Vase

Unique Charles Catteau Deco Vase  polychrome design with strongly stylized floral motifs.

1924

Charles Catteau,Vase decorative figures in bathing costumes

Charles Catteau,Vase with decorative figures in bathing costumes, strollers and anglers

by a river. 1935

 

Charles Catteau Ovoid Vase

Charles Catteau Ovoid Vase – 1928

Art Deco Catteau

Two-colour design with stylized pine cones and pine needles Art Deco  by Charles Catteau – 1926

Charles Catteau Deco ovoid vase

Charles Catteau Deco ovoid vase

1929

Charles Catteau Polar Bear Motif Vase

Polar Bear Vase – Jan Wind for Charles Catteau

1926

Large Catteau giraffe vase

Large Catteau giraffe vase – 1931

Charles Catteau art deco vase

Vase – Art Deco by Charles Catteau

Charles Catteau Art Deco

Charles Catteau Art Deco ceramic jar – 1930

Charles Catteau ceramique vases

Charles Catteau ceramique vases

Above images © Pierre Bergé & associés // © photographies Brice Vandermeeren.

 
 
 
 
 

 

13 Comments

  1. Leo van lun
    Posted December 31, 2012 at 1:31 am | Permalink

    Prachtige artistieke vormen en kleuren

  2. marai auxiliadora
    Posted September 11, 2014 at 9:01 am | Permalink

    It”s very beautiful.

  3. margareta
    Posted February 11, 2016 at 10:14 am | Permalink

    wonderful ceramics and pottery

  4. Shauna
    Posted June 1, 2016 at 12:30 pm | Permalink

    I have a Boch Freres Keramics piece that I have not been able to locate on line. The number is D. 3103. It is a apricot colored vase with white markings of birds, a tulip and a daisy. The inside is purple. The stamp on the bottom says BFK and 54 AD is encapsulated in a square.

    Thanks for your help.

  5. marcia singer
    Posted March 26, 2017 at 2:10 am | Permalink

    i have awonderful collection of Charles Catteau/Boch Freres vases which i collected years ago.I saw a few on your site that were same or similar.

    I also collect Robj pottery and Clarice Cliff

    Ilove art deco pottery as well as design from the period.

    thanks
    marcia

  6. Posted April 26, 2019 at 8:05 pm | Permalink

    What a wonderful collection!
    Thank you for sharing it with us.

  7. Widart Anne
    Posted May 22, 2019 at 6:55 pm | Permalink

    Bonjour,je possède une sculpture représentant un fauve et un serpent signée C.Catteau . Pouvez vous m en dire plus sur cet objet ? Je vous en remercie d avance !Anne Widart

  8. Crek
    Posted January 6, 2020 at 5:13 am | Permalink

    To answer Shauna’s question this is made by Ernest d’Hossche not Catteau around 1946-1948

  9. Robbie Hood
    Posted January 6, 2020 at 9:58 am | Permalink

    Thanks Crek, much appreciated.

  10. Thomas C. Keiper
    Posted March 2, 2020 at 9:25 pm | Permalink

    Many thanks Robbie! I collect many objects of beauty. But had never come across/ seen the Charles Catteau line of pottery vases. Absolutely beautiful. I must start collecting some of these lovely pieces. Should anyone on your site be interested in selling, I would be interested.

    All the best, Tom USA

  11. FRANCOISE POITEVIN
    Posted December 4, 2020 at 9:45 pm | Permalink

    Bonjour,

    Je suis très intéressée par le vase boule CATTEAU BOCH KERAMIS
    le vase BOULE AUX ARUMS.

    J’ai perdu celui que j’avais eu en héritage de mes parents et en suis très malheureuse. !!!

    SI vous voulez bien SVP me donner une piste !!!

  12. Matt Miller
    Posted December 30, 2020 at 12:25 pm | Permalink

    I have a vase identical to the one above labeled “French Art Deco vase” that had been made into a lamp. Did he or did the company make lamps or would this have been done by someone else later? Can someone point me to a value of this vase/lamp? Thank you!

  13. Robbie Hood
    Posted December 30, 2020 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    Charles Catteau – Boch Frères – Table lamps were produced, fetching 200$ here – https://www.catawiki.com/l/30415613-charles-catteau-boch-freres-table-lamp-vase-1

2 Trackbacks

  1. By Back with Deco on February 27, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    […] Art Deco Jar –  Boch Freres – Belgium modernaumaoutranemtanto.blogspot Art Deco Jug Charles Catteau Vase Frankart figural lamp Belgian Art Deco Vase – Charles Catteau see more of Charles Catteau here : www.veniceclayartists.com/charles-catteau/ […]

  2. By Cruising thru the clayniverse on October 23, 2017 at 10:22 pm

    […] ‘Charles Catteau – Art Deco ceramics master’ […]

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared.