Saint-Porchaire Wares

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Saint-Porchaire is a small town in Poitou, which seems to have forgotten its greatest glory. That center which pioneered the French faience is not mentioned as such in the French Wikipedia.

During the end of the reign of François I and the reign of Henri II (1547-1559), white earthenware was manufactured in Saint-Porchaire as luxury parts for the aristocracy. According to Wikipedia (English!) only sixty pieces have survived. Saint-Porchaire is contemporary, and perhaps earlier, of the Florentine factory of the Medici. Admired by Charles Estienne as early as 1552, these productions have undoubtedly influenced Bernard Palissy.

All those I saw are of very nice aesthetic quality. Of course, the salt box 14 cm high for sale by SGL Enchères on May 17 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye is no exception to this rule.

It is hexagonal, with a collar equipped with two handles. The base is decorated with two rows of three-dimensional masks, including lions. The panels are decorated with fine arabesques on an ochre background. They are pierced, showing a group of three cherubs on the inside of the object.

For information, the estimate indicated in the catalog is only 40 K €.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

The price obtained is excellent, and confirms the importance and rarity of this beautiful piece: 220 K € before fees, 267 K € premium included.

The estimate was not only conservative, it was ridiculous. This is often the case in France for important objects.