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.
$1,791Sale Price|20% Off
Decorative French Vintage Ceramic Thermometer and Casing by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Decorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espect (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised bird and flower blossoms....
Ceramic
A square ceramic box, by Mithé Espelt. France, 1970
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
Square ceramic lid box, model " Jupiter" by Mithé Espelt Embossed and glazed earthenware in green and crackle gold. Black painted wood box, Green felt lining. Including 23 patche...
Ceramic, Felt, Glass, Wood
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
$205Sale Price|30% Off
H 6.7 in W 2.96 in D 0.4 in
Vintage Silver Thermometer, Italy, Early 20th Century
Located in Roma, IT
This vintage silver thermometer is a precious decorative object realized in the 1910s. Silver frame with weather thermometer. Frame with floral decorations. On the back footres...
Silver
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 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
$125 / item
H 34 in W 5.5 in D 2.5 in
Large Yellow Powder-Coated Industrial Wrenches, various sizes to choose from
By Trimo
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Set of four large sunshine yellow powder-coated industrial wrenches. Please note there are 4 sizes to choose from and each are sold individually.
Metal
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
Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, AT
Walter Bosse cat figurine with thermometer, 1950s Austrian desk thermometer, cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. Designed by Walter Bosse...
Brass
$2,572
H 2.37 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
Mithé Espelt Glazed Ceramic and Wood Box with Stylized Floral Motif
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Elegant decorative box designed by Mithé Espelt, France, circa 1960s. The piece features a hand-glazed ceramic lid resting on a simple stained wood base, exemplifying Espelt’s distin...
Ceramic, Wood
$2,572
H 3.94 in W 5.91 in D 2.37 in
Mithé Espelt Glazed Ceramic and Wood Box with Repeating Floral Pattern
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Decorative lidded box designed by Mithé Espelt, France, circa 1960s. This example features a hand-glazed ceramic lid mounted on a minimalist stained wood base, showcasing Espelt’s re...
Ceramic, Wood
White and Pink Fowers Ceramic Box by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Rectangular wooden box topped with a ceramic lid by Mithé Espelt. The ceramic showcases a cream glaze background and flower motifs in molten pink glass with crackled gold lining. Bi...
Ceramic
$2,109
H 2.37 in W 4.34 in D 5.91 in
Embossed Ceramic Box, Model "Flowers" by Mithé Espelt, France, 1970
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
A rectangular chest with three flowers glazed in green, blue and white. Crackled gold frame. Wooden base with green felt at the back. France, Circa 1970 Dimensions : Height ...
Earthenware
Sold
H 3.15 in W 8.67 in D 1.38 in
Midcentury French Ceramic Key or Jewellery Holder by Mithé Espelt, circa 1960s
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
A delightful, decorative midcentury French key or accessory holder in a lustrous, azure blue enamel base, topped by a decorated sun motif in gold crackle wi...
Ceramic