Georges Jouve was a modern-era ceramicist with a tirelessly creative spirit. He began his career creating vases and other utilitarian vessels but soon renounced anything produced on a pottery wheel in favor of modeling and sculpture techniques. Forms found in nature inspired him to create unusual pieces — large cups that rolled up like vast seashells, curiously stylized birds — all springing from an alert imagination. He left an indelible mark as an unconventional ceramist.
Jouve was born in France, in 1910, to a family of decorators. At 17, he enrolled in the Ecole Boulle in Paris, where he studied sculpture. After graduation in 1930, he became a theater-set designer to help support his new wife and family. He only dabbled in ceramics when he had time — and that time did not present very often.
During World War II, Jouve was interned in a German forced-labor camp for his political views. He eventually escaped and hid at his stepparent’s home in southern France — where he indulged in his passion for ceramics to pass the time. In 1944, after the Germans left Paris, he returned to the city and pursued his dream of opening a ceramics studio.
Jouve’s work caught the eye of furniture designer Jacques Adnet, who asked him to participate in the Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition, which was hosted by a decorating and publishing house founded by architect Louis Süe and painter André Mare. His work was warmly received, and his pieces began to sell.
From there, Jouve started to participate in numerous exhibitions. At the 1947 Urban Planning Exhibition in Paris, he won a silver medal for a wall covering. His work was then displayed at several international traveling exhibitions presented by the French Ministry of National Education and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1947 to 1950.
In 1954, Jouve left Paris to set up workshops in southern France, where he concentrated on ceramics research and new techniques. His experimentation resulted in breathtaking pieces that other artists have attempted to copy for decades.
On 1stDibs, find Georges Jouve serveware, ceramics, pitchers and more.
Wall-Mounted Coat Rack with Mirror by Georges Jouve
By Georges Jouve
Located in New York, NY
Vintage, sculptural wall-mounted coat rack with mirror by Georges Jouve and Marcel Asselbur. 4 black, ceramic hooks with gilded metal arms attached to m...
Mirror
$10,000 / item
Wall mounted coat rack with mirror by Georges Jouve
By Georges Jouve
Located in Paddington, NSW
Rare Coat Hanger Mirror by Georges Jouve, France, circa 1950 An exceptional and whimsical coat hanger mirror designed by renowned French ceramist Georges Jouve in the early 1950s. T...
Brass
Georges Jouve Black Ceramic Wall Mirror, Designed for Marcel Asselbur
By Georges Jouve, Marcel Asselbur
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Jolie miroir en céramique noir par Georges Jouve pour les éditions Marcel Asselbur. Ses parents étaient tous deux décorateurs, et sa sœur aînée, née en 1908, sera céramiste sous l...
Brass
French Ceramic Hand Glazed Wall Mirror
By Juliette Derel
Located in San Francisco, CA
French decorative ceramic hand glazed ceramic wall mirror. Asymetric hand made mirror signed with original hanging cord. An eye catching design in a vib...
Ceramic, Mirror
Contemporary Wall Mounted Brass Mirror
By Waterworks
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Add a touch of modern elegance to your space with the Contemporary Wall Mounted Brass Mirror by Waterworks. Crafted from high-quality brass, this stunning round mirror features a sle...
Brass
$3,400
H 26 in W 22 in D 5 in
Handsome Leather Horse Colar Mounted With Iron Coat Hooks, Incasing Mirror
Located in Buchanan, MI
Handsome leather horse colar mounted with iron coat hooks, incasing mirror. Have other horse related items.
Iron
$850
H 45.625 in W 35.5 in D 11.375 in
Mid-Century Teak Wall Mount Coat Rack with Mirror, Hooks, 1960s Design
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall mount coat rack combines teak slats with cast metal hooks, offering functional organization with Scandinavian design sensibility. Horizontal teak slats create a warm backdrop fo...
Metal
$814 / item
H 78.75 in W 7.49 in D 2.37 in
Luciano Bertoncini, a Wall Mirror and Coat-Rack set of eight
By Luciano Bertoncini, Elco
Located in London, GB
Mirrored coat rack by Bertoncini. Italy c1970 8 individual pieces. ** Only the coat hook version available. There are no plain mirror available.
Mirror, Plastic
Ceramic Wall Mirror, Midcentury, France
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Vienna, AT
Petit mirror from ceramic, France, circa 1950-1960 Dimensions are: 14.2" x 2.4". midcentury french Brutalist ceramic mirror different shades of light pink and an abstract flowe...
Ceramic, Glass
Wall Mounted Coat Rack
Located in Antwerp, BE
Beautiful modern 1960s wall mounted large coat and hat rack. Mid century large wall mounted coat and hat rack in wood, 1960s, the wood is a veneer with a strong warm wood grain and ...
Wood
Ceramic Wall Mirror, circa 1960, France
By Roger Capron
Located in Brussels, BE
Round wall mirror, circa 1960, France. White glazed ceramic, multicolor hand-painted stripes. Dimensions: 28 cm diameter, 3 cm deep. All purchases are covered by our Buyer Protection...
Ceramic, Mirror
$1,149 / item
H 18.71 in W 22.64 in D 4.73 in
Schonbuch Pina Wall Mounted Coat Rack by Laurent Batisse
By Schönbuch
Located in New York, NY
Inspiring installation. PINA is a wall-mounted coat rack and an absolute eye-catcher. Designed by Laurent Batisse, it immediately calls to mind a series of dance steps with a strong, playful character. The coat hooks are made of powder-coated steel, as are the connecting arcs between them. Inspired by the forms of a skipping rope...
Steel
Schonbuch Pina Wall Mounted Coat Rack by Laurent Batisse
By Schönbuch
Located in New York, NY
Inspiring installation. PINA is a wall-mounted coat rack and an absolute eye-catcher. Designed by Laurent Batisse, it immediately calls to mind a series of dance steps with a strong, playful character. The coat hooks are made of powder-coated steel, as are the connecting arcs between them. Inspired by the forms of a skipping rope...
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Small Black Ceramic Wall Mirror, France, 1950
By Georges Jouve
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small Black Ceramic Mirror, France, c. 1950 Gendarme Curved Top
Ceramic
$4,400
H 79 in W 8.5 in D 0.25 in
Italian 4-Piece ‘Gronda’ Wall Mirror + Coat Rack by Luciano Bertoncini, 1972
By Luciano Bertoncini
Located in Chicago, IL
The ‘Gronda’ wall mirror and coat rack was designed in 1972 by Luciano Bertoncini and produced by Elco under the creative direction of Joe Colombo. Minimal in line, the rectangular f...
Mirror, Plastic
Sold
H 26 in W 16 in D 3.5 in
Georges Jouve Black Ceramic Coat Rack with Mirror in Brass Frame, circa 1955
By Georges Jouve
Located in Chicago, IL
Wall-mounted coat or hat rack with mirror by Georges Jouve for Marcel Asselbur. Asselbur, France, 1955. Glazed matte black stoneware forms, mirrored glass, with a brass frame. It c...
Ceramic, Mirror
Sold
H 26 in W 16 in L 26 in
Georges Jouve Black Ceramic Coat Rack with Mirror in Brass Frame, circa 1955
By Georges Jouve
Located in Chicago, IL
Wall-mounted coat rack with mirror by Georges Jouve for Marcel Asselbur. Asselbur, France, 1955. Glazed matte black stoneware forms, mirrored glass, with a brass frame. Four abstract...
Brass
Georges Jouve Mirror
By Georges Jouve
Located in Paris, FR
Red enameled ceramic mirror.
Ceramic
Georges Jouve Coat Rack with Mirror
By Georges Jouve
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wall-mounted coat rack with mirror by Georges Jouve. Asselbur, France, 1955. Glazed stoneware, mirrored glass, gilt steel. Provenance: Galerie C...
Mirror