DEUX FAÏENCES MOUSTIERS manufactures OLERYS Drageoir... Lot 25

DEUX FAÏENCES MOUSTIERS manufactures OLERYS Drageoir à contours, decorated in blue monochrome, dotted with a few touches of yellow, in the centre of a composition "A la Bérain" on the wing of a braid with ironwork motifs. First half of the 18th century Diam 21.5 cm MOUSTIERS, Fabrique de CLERISSY Small compotier with polylobed earthenware edges in blue monochrome, arabesque motif in garland around a woman's bust in the centre of the 18th century Diam. 22.5 cm The "à la Berain" decoration The Moustiers faience makers will be the first in France to leave traditions to create a completely new genre according to the taste of the court, that of the "à la Bérain" style. It was designed by French ornamentalists such as Du Cerceau, Vouet, Le Sueur, Lepeautre and especially Jean Ier Berain (1640-1711). Although his engraved work was only published in 1710, his influence on the earthenware of Moustiers was felt from 1696 in the workshop of the Clérissy, then the only earthenware manufacturers in Moustiers. It is a very personal interpretation of the "grotesque" decoration whose origin dates back to Antiquity and was later taken up by artists of the French Renaissance. Pierre I Clérissy is the one who deserves credit for the introduction of this blue monochrome decoration. It was later taken over by other faience makers, such as Olérys who translated this decoration into polychrome and then into yellow monochrome. This style lasted for at least forty-seven years. The shapes inspired by silversmithing and architecture were willingly decorated with scrolls, fleurons, hooks, fountain motifs, busts, fleurons, draperies. Little by little, monkeys and small fantasy characters are becoming more and more important. The pieces that appeared around 1720-1730 thus announce the so-called grotesque decoration. Jean I BERAIN (1640-1711): After working in a harquebusier's factory, Jean I Berain succeeded Gissey in 1674 as "Dess