Marie-Thérèse Espelt, known better as Mithé Espelt, was a dominant force in mid-20th-century ceramics in France. Mithé is remembered for her modern ceramic wall mirrors, gilded and enameled ashtrays and other ornate objects and boxes, often featuring birds and lively colors. She preferred not to sign her pieces and, as a consequence, much of her work has been misattributed, including to French ceramist François Lembo.
Mithé grew up in the Camargue region of France. Her father’s extensive network included 1904 Nobel Prize winner Frédéric Mistral and Parisian painter and decorator Jean Hugo. Mithé’s early introduction to a community of artists inspired her to study sculpture and drawing at the Beaux-Arts School in Montpellier in 1939.
Mithé’s early work caught the attention of French ceramist Emilie Decanis and jewelry distributor Charles Démery. Mithé set up a ceramics workshop in the Hôtel de Bernis in Lunel, where she quickly garnered a reputation for her ceramic work and accessories, including mirrors, jewelry boxes and buttons. Démery founded the Souleiado boutique, which began distributing Mithé’s work, thus attracting a worldwide audience.
French author Antoine Candau wrote a retrospective book on Mithé’s career titled Mithé Espelt, the Discreet Luxury of the Every Day, which contributed to bringing her legacy to the forefront while shedding light on her anonymity. While Mithé was respected within her inner circle, the general public is only now beginning to understand the immense talent behind her over five-decade-long career.
Find Mithé Espelt mirrors, decorative objects, wall decorations and more for sale on 1stDibs.
Mithé Espelt Ceramic Bird Vide-Poche/ Baguier, circa 1968, France.
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare and poetic Mithé Espelt "Bird" ceramic vide-poche/ baguier, c.1968, France. Gold, ivory, black enameled and cracked earthenware. Dimensions: 11,5 cm W, 11,5 cm D, 2 cm H. Beauti...
Earthenware
Decorative Ceramic Vide-Poche by Pol Chambost, circa 1950s
By Pol Chambost
Located in London, GB
Decorative ceramic vide-poche by Pol Chambost (circa 1950s). Small yet elegant seashell-shaped form with white base and dark, grape-purple outline and lip. Outside of the centre, the...
Ceramic
Mithé Espelt Square Ceramic Box
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Decorative square box by Mithé Espelt, stained wood box covered with a ceramic lid showing a single white and blue flower framed with gold glaze....
Ceramic
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.75 in W 5.75 in D 5.75 in
Mithe Espelt Ceramic and Fused Glass Jewelry Box France c 1968
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Chicago, IL
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Ceramic enamels in shades of green gold with fused glass with iconic blackened wood box. Literature: Mithé Espelt, le luxe discret...
Ceramic
Decorative metal bird vide poche
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Decorative metal bird vide poche
Metal
Albert Thiry Ceramic Bowl or Vide-Poche Vallauris France
By Albert Thiry
Located in San Mateo, CA
Ceramic bowl by Vallauris, France potter Albert Thiry. This is from the 1960’s when he and his wife had set up their own pottery studio in Vallauris.
Ceramic
$475Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.73 in W 7.49 in D 7.88 in
Black Ceramic Hand-Shaped Vide-Poche, France, 1960s
By Georges Jouve
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Black glazed ceramic vide-poche in the form of an open hand, made in Vallauris, France, in the 1960s. The generous palm-shaped basin and softly modeled fingers give the piece a stron...
Ceramic
$617
H 3.94 in W 7.49 in D 9.85 in
French Ceramic Vide Poche circa 1960s, in the style of Georges Jouve
By Georges Jouve
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
French ceramic blue Vide Poche circa 1960s - in the style of Georges Jouve, Ruelland Large hand-shaped pocket organizer. Mid-century plaster enameled with glossy enamel circa 1960...
Enamel
$144Sale Price|50% Off
H 2.76 in Dm 5.12 in
Albert Thiry Vide Poche, Vallauris Ceramic, French Riviera, 1960s
By Vallauris, Albert Thiry
Located in London, England
This magnificent pocket vacuum, in enameled stoneware, made by Albert Thiry, is an emblematic piece of Vallauris' French ceramics of the 1960s. With a diameter of 8.5 cm and a height...
Ceramic, Stoneware
$4,182Sale Price|30% Off
H 2.72 in W 5.63 in D 6.5 in
Ceramic vide-poche by Georges Jouve, France, 1950's
By Georges Jouve
Located in Paris, FR
Blue ceramic vide-poche by Georges Jouve, signed
Ceramic
$140Sale Price|59% Off
H 2.37 in W 10.63 in D 7.88 in
West German Pottery Vide Poche, Ceramic Decorative Dish, Circa 1960
By West German Pottery
Located in London, England
Discover the refined authenticity of this West Germany ceramic pocket vacuum Artisan Pottery, made in Germany in the 1960s. Its glossy enamel finish highlights natural and warm shade...
Enamel
$733
H 4.73 in W 8.27 in D 7.88 in
French Ceramic Vide Poche circa 1960s, in the style of Georges Jouve
By Georges Jouve
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
French ceramic white Vide Poche circa 1960s - in the style of Georges Jouve, Ruelland Large hand-shaped pocket organizer. Mid-century plaster enameled with glossy enamel circa 1960...
Enamel
Black Ceramic Fish Vide-Poche – Signed, France, circa 1970
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This decorative black ceramic vide-poche depicts a stylized fish. The piece stands out for its sculptural relief modeling, highlighting the scales and contours of the animal in a pla...
Ceramic
Ceramic Vide-Poche / Ashtray by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic vide-poche / ashtray by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s.
Ceramic
Ceramic Vide-Poche Tray by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Small vide-poche tray in ceramic with white and gold glazed bird decor by the french artist Mithé Espelt. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in the town of Lu...
Ceramic
Mithe Espelt French Ceramic Vide Poche
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Chicago, IL
Mithe Espelt ceramic vide poche. c 1960. A similar vide poche is featured in the book on p 20. Crackled gold glaze and vibrant blue glaze with smil...
Ceramic
Ceramic Vide-Poche / Ashtray by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic vide-poche / ashtray by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s.
Ceramic