Clément Massier, Yellow column with sea snakes, 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 aesthetics took precedence over utility. 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 sumptuous ceramic suit, featuring yellow and dark green chamaré with touches of pink, testifies to the Massiers’ mastery of glaze firing and color selection. This piece is quite astonishing, as it doesn’t so much reflect an antique decor as a full-height work on the sea serpent, all coils and fins.