Clément Massier, an accomplished ceramist born into a multi-generational family of potters working in Vallauris, France in the second half of the 19th century, transcended his family’s metier. Rather than creating utilitarian objects as a means unto themselves, he used the ceramic medium as an aesthetic platform to make art.
Among the many international awards earned during his lifetime, Massier was awarded a gold medal at the world’s fair, Exposition Universelle held in Paris in 1889. At the Exposition, it was Massier’s ceramic glazing techniques, using turquoise metallic luster, which captured the world’s attention.
Massier’s metallic luster glazes produce the dual properties of reflectivity and transparency to create iridescence. To achieve this, Massier fired his ceramics in a three-tiered process at increasingly lower temperatures. He applied the final glaze created from a metallic clay compound with a brush. When the blackened vessels had fully cooled, they were buffed until shiny to reveal his iridescent inspirations of nature. Each piece produced was a unique object revealing not only the hand of the artist but also the variable effects of temperature, natural elements and their interactive relationships. His glazes are illusory interpretations fused into fired earthenware. Conversely, the ceramic object’s solidity belies its ephemeral nature which constantly changes in light. This duality naturally inherent to this art medium is a theme that Massier echoes in his subject matter.
Find Clément Massier vases and other decorative objects on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by Galerie Fledermaus)
Rare Majolica Butterfly Wall Pocket Clement Massier, circa 1900
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Majolica butterfly wall pocket signed Clement Massier, Golfe Juan Circa 1900. H / 7 inches. W / 9 inches.
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Oxen Cart Clement Massier, circa 1900
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Antique Majolica oxen cart jardiniere circa 1900, signed Clement Massier Golfe-Juan. Reference: Page 111 "Barbotines de la cote d'Azur" of Bottero.
Majolica, Ceramic
Aqua Turquoise Majolica Turtle Clement Massier, circa 1890
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Aqua Turquoise Majolica Turtle Clement Massier, circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Pug Clement Massier, circa 1890
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Pug Clement Massier, circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
Large Majolica Mountain Lion Clement Massier, circa 1890
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica mountain Lion or cougar signed Clement Massier, circa 1890. Provenance / Family of Clement Massier.
Ceramic, Faience
French Aqua Majolica Donkey Vallauris with Basket Clement Massier , circa 1900
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
French Aqua Majolica Donkey Vallauris with Basket Clement Massier , circa 1900.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
$366
H 11.81 in W 14.56 in D 11.02 in
Majolica Swan Jardinière Stamped Imperiale Nimy, Belgium, circa 1900
By Imperiale Royale, NIMY
Located in Verviers, BE
Majolica white swan jardinière Nimy, circa 1900. Stamped: Nimy Faiences imperiale 1789-1951 Belgium. A real treasure for the ceramics' collector. ...
Majolica
$1,700 / set
H 27 in W 15 in D 10 in
Mid-Century French Majolica Gnome Trio with Watering Can, Basket, and Staff
Located in Dallas, TX
Add whimsical charm to your home or garden with this expressive set of three vintage Majolica sculptures, crafted in France circa 1960. Each hand-painted ceramic gnome...
Ceramic, Majolica
French Majolica Jugendstil Art Nouveau Ceramic Plate, circa 1900
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Beautiful French Majolica wall plate from the Jugendstil / Art Nouveau period (ca 1900). Elegant design with a lovely lady in the middle. Nu...
Ceramic
Belgium Handcrafted Ceramic Wall Art, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Vintage ceramic wall art. Brown earthenware with hand painted accents. Design of 8 figures in ceramic and glazed in the tones blue, gold, whit...
Ceramic
French Ceramic and Bronze Vase by Clement Massier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Large glazed vase by Clement Massier. Impressed maker's mark. Clement Massier, Juan (AM) Measures: Height 82 cm, width 35 cm, depth 28 cm. Weight 12 kg.
Bronze
19th Majolica Palissy Snake and Lizard Wall Platter Jose Alves Cunha
By José Alves Cunha 1
Located in Bradenton, FL
Antique 19th century Portuguese Majolica Palissy style plate with large snake and large lizard searching through mossy tuft, signed Jose Alves Cunha (...
Pottery
Zodiac Copper Wall Art
Located in Antwerp, BE
Zodiac copper wall art. Diameter:50 cm. Depth:3 cm.
Copper
Ceramic Link Chain Wall Sculpture
By Asmaa Aman-Tran
Located in Attleboro, MA
Chains echo different emotions in us, some see them as a symbol of imprisonment, and vulnerability and some see as an emotion of inter connectivity and strong bond between the people. The truth is ,chains as we see them in the moment will either resonate the first or the latter symbolism depending on the emotions we feel at the moment. This eye-catching wall hanging adds a nomadic and mystical feel to any room. Created through a hand-intensive process of linking hand built stoneware rings of different sizes, this wall hanging is a dynamic decoration for an eclectic bedroom...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Linen
Ceramic Link Chain Wall Sculpture
By Asmaa Aman-Tran
Located in Attleboro, MA
Chains echo different emotions in us, some see them as a symbol of imprisonment, and vulnerability and some see as an emotion of inter connectivity and strong bond between the people. The truth is ,chains as we see them in the moment will either resonate the first or the latter symbolism depending on the emotions we feel at the moment. This eye-catching wall hanging adds a nomadic and mystical feel to any room. Created through a hand-intensive process of linking hand built stoneware rings of different sizes, this wall hanging is a dynamic decoration for an eclectic bedroom...
Ceramic, Stoneware, Linen
$5,200
H 5.5 in W 3.25 in D 3.25 in
Iridescent Art Nouveau Spiderwebs & Berries Vase by Dhurmer for Clement Massier
By Lucien Levy-Dhurmer, Clement Massier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Attributed to Lucien Levy Dhurmer for Clement Massier. Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling....
Earthenware
Ceramic Tile Wall Art Decoration from a Cat
By Tackoen
Located in Antwerp, BE
Ceramic tile wall art decoration from a cat. Height 94 cm. Width 47 cm. Depth 3 cm.
Wood, Ceramic
$4,800
H 8.5 in W 4.75 in D 4.75 in
Iridescent Art Nouveau Foliage Vase w/Silver Mount by Clement Massier
By Clement Massier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel services are an option, the defau...
Silver
Small French White Majolica Rabbit Clement Massier, circa 1890
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Small French White Majolica Rabbit Clement Massier, circa 1890. Signed MCM Golfe Juan A.M
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Birds Jardiniere Clement Massier, circa 1890
By Clement Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Antique Majolica birds jardinière with bamboo circa 1890, signed Clement Massier Golfe-Juan.
Majolica, Ceramic
Clement Massier Frog Figure
By Clement Massier
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Clement Massier French Majolica figure which features a frog. Coloration: green, yellow, brown, are predominant. The piece bears maker's marks for the Clement Massier pottery...
Earthenware
Sold
H 6.5 in W 13.5 in L 6.5 in
19th Century French Hand Painted Ceramic Barbotine Jardinière Stamped C. Massier
By Clement Massier
Located in Dallas, TX
This colorful, antique Majolica sculpture composition depicts a Classic farm scene with cows pulling a cart. Created in France circa 1890, the ceramic jardinière features a pair of bovines joined together by a yoke, pulling a large wagon on wheel. The unique planter is well decorated with a green base and the cows are beautifully hand painted with the same watercolor-like technique. The piece, stamped on the bottom MCM, Golfe Juan, is in excellent condition and flaunts a palette of rich colors. The Massier family of Vallauris is recognized for three members producing Majolica in the second half of the 19th century. In 1860, brothers Delphin (1836-1907) and Clement (1844-1917) Massier were joined by Cousin Jerome Massier (1850-1916) and began producing a style of ceramic bridging between traditional Victorian Majolica and Art Nouveau pottery. The Massiers mastered the copper oxide flambé technique for glazing, thereby introducing an intensely vibrant color palette including red, green and blue hues not previously seen with English Majolica. Important in the Massier production were a series of large naturalistic modeled figural animals including cows, roosters and other birds. Vases and wall pockets styled as orchids, intensely colored irises and sunflowers are among the most common Massier styles. A variety of humorous pieces bearing frogs and songbirds are popular among collectors. Most Massier Majolica bears...
Ceramic, Majolica
Sold
H 14.5 in W 11 in D 6.5 in
19th Century French Painted Ceramic Barbotine Rooster Signed Clement Massier
By Clement Massier
Located in Dallas, TX
This colorful Majolica rooster was crafted in Vallauris, France, circa 1890. The green, hand-painted, ceramic bird has a glazed finish and is signed on the bottom Clement Massier, Go...
Ceramic, Majolica