On the advice of his ceramist brother-in-law Jean Derval, Gustave Reynaud, who was looking for a career path, decided to settle in Vallauris. In 1955, accompanied by his wife Micheline, he let himself be tempted by the ceramic adventure, which had been booming since the arrival of the painter-turned-potter Picasso at Madoura in 1948. The couple set up their own ceramics house and workshop, ‘Le Murier’, named after the local district. Already well established in the village since 1946, Jean Derval initially helped Gustave and Micheline with glazing and graphic decoration. Later, with the arrival of successive turners, including Jean-François Descombes, and decorators such as Michel Barbier and Jean Rivier, the workshop was able to create a range of products geared towards tableware and interior decoration. This high-quality handmade production is identifiable by its personalised style. Many young ceramists have passed through the Murier workshop, including Olivier Roy, who spent a year and a half there. Engraved or fused under glaze, the stylised decorations deal with floral or animal themes, most often birds, and abstract motifs for utilitarian and decorative ceramics. Inspired by the designs of Jean Derval, knightly jugs and maidens with children took shape. The colours used were mainly copper red and cobalt blue, often on a creamy background. After Gustave Reynaud died in 1972, Micheline continued to produce utilitarian pieces until the workshop closed in 1982. Before 1972, the mulberry leaf was the workshop’s signature. Later, the stamp ‘Le murier’ and or Vallauris appeared.
Atelier Le Murier
