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.
French 1950s Bird Tiles Trinket Box in Ceramic and Wood
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern hinged wooden box with colorful birds ceramic tiles top, France 1950s. This exquisite vintage rectangular box is all constructed in wood. Beautiful hand-painted ti...
Ceramic, Majolica, Wood
Mid Century Pink and Blue Ceramic Box with Birds by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Toronto, ON
An exceptional mid century glazed ceramic box with blue border and lavender & pink birds by famed artist, Mithé Espelt. The box lid is ceramic with a blackened wood base. Born in 192...
Ceramic, Wood
Mid Century Gold and Blue Ceramic Box with Birds by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Toronto, ON
An exceptional mid century glazed ceramic box with liquid gold border and blue & white birds by famed artist, Mithé Espelt. The box lid is ceramic with a blackened wood base. Born in...
Ceramic, Wood
French Bird Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Bird Box Early 20th Century Mechanical wonder meets refined artistry in this exquisite singing bird box, a captivating example of early 20th-century French craftsmanship. The case, ...
Brass
Flajoulot Porcelain Bird Box
By E. Flajoulot
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
This exquisite automated bird box was made in Paris, France by renowned maker Flajoulot in 1885. Beautiful colored enamels and silver adorn all sides and top of the case. The colors ...
Porcelain
German Singing Bird Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
German Enamel and Gilt-Metal Bird Box Emil Brenk Early 20th Century This exceptional bird box displays a Rococo-style enamel and gilded case by Emil Brenk. The lid is decorated with...
Enamel
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
Black Box Bird Duck Mosaic
By The Couroc Company
Located in New York, NY
A black resin rectangular box with mosaic inlaid mallard duck bird on pond with cattail plant flower; all inlaying was done by hand with natural materials...
Brass
Mandolin Singing Bird Automaton Music Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
This exceptional singing bird cylinder music box is a wonder of Austrian mechanical ingenuity. Not only does it play a selection of classical airs with remarkable tone and clarity, but its lush sound is accompanied by a colorful, singing bird automaton...
Satinwood
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
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
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
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
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
Square Mirror
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
A singular object, faithful to the artist's sunny, luxurious universe. Mithé Espelt creates the border of this mirror in stamped and enameled clay. The beautifully glazed enamels fea...
Ceramic, Mirror
Gilded mirror
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Paris, FR
Gilded mirror Ceramic Catalog : Antoine Candau p.65 H x W x D : 21.00 cm. x 11.00 cm. x 1.00 cm. 8.27 in. x 4.33 in. x 0.39 in. Good condition ‘Oblong’ hand mirror, stamped clay a...
Gold Leaf
