Palissy Ware

Books on Palissy Ware

The great French sixteenth-century potter, Bernard Palissy, created a genre of rustic ceramic ware reproducing three-dimensional still lifes of natural objects such as flora and fauna of all types including small animals, reptiles, fish, and shells rendered in high relief and natural colors. His work influenced a school of artists that flourished in the Portuguese town of Caldas da Rainha, sixty-five miles north of Lisbon, operating in at least twenty-five factories between 1853 and 1920. Here developed a particular style and color palette, as well as the "moss" background only found in ceramics from this area. This volume surveys the work of the most important artists of the Portuguese Palissy revival, focusing on the two major figures, Manuel Cipriano Gomes Mafra and Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, as well as many others. An indispensable reference, "Portuguese Palissy Ware" includes 159 color-plates, 7 b&w illustrations, 144 pages, 9" x 12", hard cover, Hudson Hills Press, New York, 1999. Suggested retail price - $75.

Palissy ware, named after the controversial, sixteenth-century French potter, Bernard Palissy, and his naturalistic ceramic art, influenced scores of ceramists for more than 400 years. This volume, fully illustrated in color, provides the first comprehensive account of the work of Palissy's nineteenth-century followers in France. In addition to biographies of the principal ceramists, the book includes a background chapter on Bernard Palissy with translations of selected portions of his writings, historical chronologies of Palissy and the Schools of Tours and Paris, a comprehensive listing of illustrated makers' marks, and an extensive section of notes containing references and annotations. It is regarded as the standard guide and work of reference for collectors, curators, and all those concerned with the high achievements of ceramic art. Full color, 242 illustrations, 192 pages, 8 1/2" x 12", hard cover, Athlone Press, London, 1996. Suggested retail price - $120.

A full-color illustrated primer depicting the various styles of Palissy ware in nineteenth-century France. This abbreviated volume serves as an introduction to readers not previously familiar with Palissy ware who desire to learn the rudiments of this fascinating subject. It contains a short history of Bernard Palissy, The School of Tours, The School of Paris, and Collecting Tips. Full color, 29 illustrations, 69 pages, 8 1/2" x 8 1/2", paperback, heavyweight stock, Raff Press, Pittsburgh, 1994. Suggested retail price - $25.