Jean Besnard

Ovoid Vase

1930s, French
Unmarked
6.25 inches high (16 cm)

Literature: Plaisir de France, juillet 1937, 'Les céramiques de Jean Besnard', by Jacques Mathey. Art et décoration 1932, ' Jean Besnard, potier et céramiste', by René Jean, for similar examples.

Turquoise glaze with linear abstract decoration of incised diagonal lines.

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Jean Besnard (1889-1958) is one of of France's most important 20th century ceramists. He was the son of the famous painter Albert Besnard (1849-1934) and the sculptor Charlotte Aubray (1855-1931). Besnard studied folk pottery and specialized in folk inspired vessels with distinct glazes. He is best known for his development of the "lace" glaze technique. The white enamel "wrinkled" granular aspect which he used to provoke subtle variations was the trademark that made him famous. He made incisions in the material for a linear or abstract decoration, imitated fabrics, and leathers. His abstract brown-on-white patterns seem almost African inspired. Besnard made vases, lamps, masks, animal sculptures and enameled pots. During the 1920's he worked with Jacques-Émile Ruhlmann.