Clément Massier, Blue stool with clawed legs, Circa 1890, glazed ceramic, Golfe Juan, France

The Massier family had been active in Vallauris since the 18th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that the emphasis shifted from the utilitarian to the aesthetic. Delphin (1836-1907) and his brother Clément (1844-1917), then their cousin Jean-Baptiste dit Jérôme fils (1850-1916), were the driving force behind this development. The Massiers owed their success to the systematic use of plaster molds, which enabled the models to be distributed, and to the use of glazed earthenware, which allowed for a varied palette of colors.

This large, sumptuous Massier cache-pot testifies to the unrivalled expertise of the Vallauris manufactures, brought to perfection by Clément Massier, who demonstrates his mastery of color in this deep turquoise blue with lighter reflections. The base of this stool or garden seat, with its four clawed feet, demonstrates an ever-present taste for antiquisite motifs.