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.
$2,204Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage French Jewellery Box with Enamel Lid and Toucan Motif by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Decorative jewellery box with enamel lid and toucan bird motif by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). Stylised toucan and lemon with vibrant colours crown this otherwise simple but elegant j...
Enamel
Mithé Espelt Ceramic Jewelry Box, Mid-Century Modern, France, 1950s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Mid-Century Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt — Lunel, France, 1950s. A stunning mid-century ceramic jewelry box crafted by renowned French artist Mithé Espelt in Lunel, France, d...
Ceramic, Wood
Ceramic Vide Poche by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic vide poche by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt, le luxe discret du quotidien ", Antoine Candau, Ed. Odyssée, 2020.
Ceramic
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...
Ceramic
$2,000
Box Bird bronze
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Box Bird bronze Ceramic H x W x D : 27.00 cm. x 10.00 cm. x 6.50 cm. 10.63 in. x 3.94 in. x 2.56 in. Good condition This elongated box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid decor...
Gold Leaf
$2,117
Colombes
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Colombes Ceramic H x W x D : 6.50 cm. x 26.50 cm. x 9.50 cm. 2.56 in. x 10.43 in. x 3.74 in. Very good condition This wooden box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid decorated wi...
Gold Leaf
$1,764
Flowers Jewellery box
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Glazed ceramic jewellery box with flowers and blackened wooden base. This beautiful jewelry box is topped with a stamped earthenware lid and decorated with a floral enamel motif fea...
Ceramic, Wood
$2,117
Colombes
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Colombes Ceramic Object dimensions (H x W x D) : 6.50 cm. x 27.00 cm. x 9.50 cm. (2.56 in. x 10.63 in. x 3.74 in.) Very good condition This wooden box is topped with an embossed ea...
Gold Leaf
$1,764
Box Birds
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
This wooden box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid decorated with bluish, green and white polychrome enamels. For Mithé Espelt, the object is an essential element of the boudoir....
Ceramic, Wood
Jewelry Box Brass Swan Bird Red Lacquer
Located in New York, NY
A '70 modern red lacquer or high-gloss 'demi-lune' box with inlayed brass swan bird design, circa 1970s. A chic decorative box for jewelry (as demonstrated)...
Brass
$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
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
Louis XVI Hand Painted Wedding Box
Located in Essex, MA
Likely made in the Normandy area of France. Domed hinged top with wrought iron hasp and lock. Conforming case. With original painted surface.
Pine
French Porcelain Jewelry Box
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in New York, NY
A French porcelain jewelry box, styled after Sèvres porcelain, in the Regency design style, circa late-19th century to early-20th century, France. Boxes' lid features outdoor nature scene with couple and dog surrounded by hand-painted gold detail i the Regency design style. Gold hand-painted detail featured on lid, front, sides and back of box. Great as a standalone piece or to hold jewelry (demonstrated) or other items on a desk, vanity, dresser, etc. Marked on underside as shown in last image, 'Made in France', 'Hand Decorated'. Box is a nice size. Dimensions: 2.75" Height x 4.13" Depth x 6.5" Width. Jewelry and other items shown available separately, search 1stDibs ref. #: For Italian Ginori box search 1stDibs ref. #: LU1314243501722 Cartier coffee...
Porcelain
French Antique Ormolu and Limoges Enamel Jewellery Box
By Limoges
Located in Newark, England
LIMOGES ENAMEL PANELS From our Decorative collection, we are delighted to offer this French Napoleon III Ormolu and Enamel Jewellery Box. The Jewellery...
Enamel, Ormolu
$210Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.86 in W 0.56 in D 1.86 in
Silver snuff box with engraved floral motifs and hinged lid
Located in Porto, PT
Description: Silver snuff box with engraved floral motifs and hinged lid. Metal: Silver. Origin: English. Brand: Sheffield. Weight: 31.11 grams. Dimensions: 4.7x1.4cm. Content: 925/1...
Silver
$295
H 2.75 in Dm 2.5 in
Whimsical Limoges France Halloween Ghost With Ball & Chain Porcelain Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Tustin, CA
Collectible and whimsical, limited edition Limoges porcelain Halloween motif miniature trinket box is handmade and hand painted in France and fe...
Porcelain
Decorative Box with lid, Vintage Wooden Brown Jewellery Box, Hand Carved
Located in Wembley, GB
A handmade wooden jewellery box with a lid and lock, it is perfectly designed and created in a suitable size for keeping valuables inside. The top of this box has leaf patterns and l...
Papercord, Boxwood, Driftwood
$350
H 3 in W 2 in D 0.75 in
Limoges France Hand Painted Porcelain Victorian Style Boot Shoe Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Tustin, CA
Very pretty Limoges porcelain old fashion Victorian style lace up boot shoe shaped trinket box is handmade in France and features a white background with skillfully hand painted clusters of deep pink roses, vining green...
Porcelain
$176Sale Price|45% Off
H 1.58 in W 4.34 in D 2.56 in
Vintage Rosewood and Brass Trinket Jewelry Box, 1960s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A beautifully crafted rosewood box with brass sides and pin-inlays to its star-perforated lid. Despite its Arabic inspired lid it was in fact made in Scandinavia during the 1960s. A ...
Brass
1950s Onyx Mineral Stone Jewelry Box / Hinged Box
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern hinged box veneered in fine Onyx stone, Spain, 1950s. This exquisite vintage 1950s rectangular box is all constructed with onyx and features a brass hinge. This tr...
Stone, Onyx, Brass
Blue Bird Box
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Blue Bird Box Ceramic, 1960 Object dimensions (H x W x D) : 14.50 cm. x 14.50 cm. x 6.00 cm. (5.71 in. x 5.71 in. x 2.36 in.) Very good condition Square black-stained wooden box wi...
Gold Leaf
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...
Ceramic
Round " Perou" ceramic lead box by Mithé Espelt circa 1950.
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
Round ceramic-lid jewel box, model " Pérou" by Mithé Espelt. Embossed and crackled gold glazed earthenware with 21 crystallized glass inclusions in shades of amber, yellow and white...
Earthenware, Felt, Glass, Fruitwood
Trésor
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Trésor Ceramic, 1953 Catalog : [Candau p.75] H x W x D : 7.50 cm. x 10.00 cm. x 14.50 cm. 2.95 in. x 3.94 in. x 5.71 in. Stamped clay with geometric patterns, enamels and gold ...
Gold Leaf
Jewelry box “Owl”
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Rectangular jewelry box “Owl”, ceramic lid with polychrome enamels highlighted with gold on a crackled background. Original green felt lining. On this box, Mithé Espelt makes gold a...
Ceramic, Wood
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...
Ceramic
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...
Ceramic
Ceramic Jewelry Box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Ceramic jewelry box by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960s Stamped clay, enamels in shades of green, gold, blackened wood box Date of creation: around 1955-1960 Bibliography: " Mithé Espelt,...
Ceramic
Sold
H 2.76 in W 5.79 in D 4.06 in
Jewellery Box with Decorative Ceramic Lid by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s)
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Jewellery box with decorative ceramic lid by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). A series of yellow and green imperfect circles appear on the cover of the box like stepping stones in a garde...
Ceramic
The Two Doves and the Branch
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Radiance in a corner This wooden box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid decorated with orange and scarlet polychrome enamels. For Mithé Espelt, the object is an essential elemen...
Ceramic, Wood
Sunflower Jewelry Box
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Slight enamel skip on one corner This wooden box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid adorned with burgundy enamel and a golden sunflower, offering a precious warm and luminous ha...
Gold Leaf
Box Bird bronze
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
This elongated box is topped by a stamped earthenware lid decorated with gold enamel. For Mithé Espelt, the object is an essential element of the boudoir. It is both useful and an od...
Gold Leaf