a "potted" history

The Massier family, a dynasty of potters dating back to before the French Revolution and played a key role in the revival of pottery in Vallauris. Clément Massier is regarded as the founder in the early twentieth century of the modern ceramics industry in Vallauris.

With a natural creativity, Clément Massier (1844 Vallauris - Golfe-Juan 1917) first worked with his father Jacques (1801-1871) in 1856 . He was introduced to pottery by Gaetano Gandolfi, an Italian master-potter hired by his father. Gandolfi was the inispiration behind several techniques, including iridescent luster glazed pottery, which was to make the reputation of the house Massier.

Subsequently, production turned from utilitarian pottery in favor of exclusively artistic creations. Massier - the three companies, led by the brothers Clément and Delphin and cousin Jérôme, soon formed the core of the producers of Vallauris.

The desire to master new artistic techniques pushed Clément into experimenting with metallic glazes.His turquoise metallic luster earned him a gold medalin the Universal Exhibition of 1889.

Céline and Cédric Massier are the latest and sole practitioners of their family art in Vallauris. They still use the lustre glazes and their pieces are contemporary - stretching further the bounderies of ceramic sculpture.