Collections Winter 2012 Volume 90 | Page 6

NEW ACQUISITION Barbizet Wall Plate interest in Palissy’s pottery became the inspiration for a line of majolica wares produced by Minton Ltd, which were exhibited to great acclaim at the Crystal Palace Great Exhibition of 1851 under the name “Palissy ware.” With its deep well, finely modeled animals, and contrasts of colors, the wall plate purchased by Ethel for the museum collection is an exceptional example of its type and was made by Victor Barbizet, one of the most important ceramic artists of the 19th century. Victor Barbizet, French, c. 1805-c. 1870 ; Maison Barbizet, active (Paris, France), c. 1850-1870. Wall Plate, c. 1855, painted and tin-glazed earthenware, Gift of Ethel S. Brody, CMA 2011.2 By Brian J. Lang, Curator of Decorative Arts This past January, I had the pleasure of accompanying longtime museum supporter, Ethel Brody, to New York City. Being a native New Yorker, Ethel never really needs a reason to return to her hometown; however, with an invitation to attend art galleries and the Metropolitan Museum of Art she could hardly refuse. In addition to the above, we attended the Winter Antiques Show, the premier selling exhibition of antiques in the country, and the New York Ceramics Fair, which is one of the leading ceramics fairs in the country. Bernard Palissy (c. 1510-c. 1589) was a Renaissance ceramicist of French Huguenot origin, a hydraulics engineer, and a craftsman, famous for having struggled for sixteen years to imitate Chinese porcelain. While not successful in his quest to discover the true porcelain of the Chinese, Palissy did develop a unique style of ceramics—a painted and tin-glazed earthenware, decorated with molded figures of plants and animals, such as coiled vipers, slinking lizards, scaly fish, and water flora, all set amidst a naturalistic setting— which gained widespread popularity in the 16th century and for many years thereafter. Arriving at the Fair, we agreed to part ways so each of us could explore the show at our leisure. No more than ten minutes into our adventure, Ethel came up to me, breathless from her excitement, and says, “After ten years of looking, I’ve found it.” “It” turns out to be the exceptional 19th century “Palissy ware” wall plate illustrated above. Nearly 250 years after Palissy’s death, Charles-Jean Avisseau, a middle-aged French ceramicist, rediscovered the lost secrets of Palissy’s ceramics, which energized a revival movement lasting until the beginning of the twentieth century. Reproduced by a number of manufacturers throughout Portugal, France, and England, 4 columbiamuseum.org Victor Barbizet (c. 1805-c. 1870) was a potter from Burgundy, who later relocated to Paris with his son, Achille (c. 18251885). There, the two are credited with founding the “School of Paris,” whose potters produced wares in the manner of Palissy. By 1873, their Maison Barbizet atelier grew to a size of 16,000 square feet and employed sixty artisans. Following the death of his father, Achille Barbizet exhibited his Palissy wares at the Vienna World Exposition (1873), the Fourth Annual International Exhibition (1874) in London, and the Paris Exposition Universelle (1878), where he won a prestigious silver medal, besting his contemporary rivals, Edouard Avisseau and Thomas-Victor Sergent, who only managed to win bronze medals. This plate is a wonderful example of Maison Barbizet’s output and will further enhance the Museum’s holdings of 19th century European ceramics. More importantly, it will be a nice complement to the majolica-ware revolving luncheon tray made by Minton, currently on view in Gallery 14 and also acquired through Ethel’s generosity.