Jérôme Massier

JÉRÔME MASSIER (France, 1850–1926), Vallauris, France.
Yellow ceramic plate.
Signed and marked on the base.
Measurements: 7 x 30 x 30 cm (approx.).

Created in Vallauris, one of the major centers of innovation in French artistic ceramics between the 19th and 20th centuries, this unique plate by Jérôme Massier stands out for its original openwork structure, which uses ceramic to replicate the appearance of woven basketry. The complexity of the latticework—formed by thick, intertwined, and knotted strands—highlights the Massier workshop’s interest in exploring the plastic possibilities of clay and transforming everyday objects into pieces with a distinctly sculptural character. The intense yellow glaze, with its bright and luminous finish, enhances the interplay of volumes, voids, and reflections on the surface, lending it a particularly decorative presence. Its appealing combination of technical virtuosity, unconventional design, and the ceramic tradition of Vallauris makes the piece an interesting collector’s item, particularly representative of the experimental spirit that brought international prestige to the Massier family’s work.