Vallauris ceramics are pottery wares made in Vallauris, a small town near Cannes on the French Riviera with a long history of producing earthenware cooking pots from local clay. In the mid-twentieth century the town became one of the most important centres of artistic pottery in France.
The revival of Vallauris is closely associated with Pablo Picasso, who began working at the Madoura pottery of Suzanne and Georges Ramié in the late 1940s and produced a large body of ceramic work there, including editions of plates, jugs and vases that are now highly prized. His presence drew many other artists and potters to the town, and studios such as that of Roger Capron produced distinctive tiles, tables and decorative wares. During the 1950s and 1960s numerous workshops made brightly glazed vases, lamp bases, dishes and ashtrays with bold, textured and drip glazes for the tourist and export markets. Collectors look for signed pieces, recognised studio marks, strong glaze effects and good condition. Picasso editions are identified by specific stamps and inscriptions, and should be checked carefully, as reproductions and misattributions exist. Vallauris pottery suits mid-century and eclectic interiors well.
