Free And Poetic Decorative Arts

From the Cloutier brothers to the Artisans de Marolles, with a stop along the way at George Nakashima’s furniture—let creativity take center stage!

Jean and Robert Cloutier, twin brothers, began developing an original style of ceramics in 1955 that encompassed everything from utilitarian and decorative objects to architectural works. Their strength and distinctive style lay in combining technical mastery and the quality of their glazes with boundless imagination, thereby giving rise to a unique artistic universe. It must be said that they were well-trained, having studied under Georges Jouve and Pol Chambost. About twenty pieces with estimates ranging from€600 to€800: vases, pitchers, and animal sculptures—including a depiction of a charging ram expected to fetchbetween€2,000 and€3,000 —all from a single private collection—showcase their works, which are both free-spirited and poetic in their exploration of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic forms. An original “Homme porte pipes” model (created in 1959) illustrates this trend: the polychrome glazed ceramic sculpture opens to reveal an interior fitted with pipe holders (€2,000–3,000). All of these pieces demonstrate why the Cloutier brothers, who belong to the generation that spearheaded the postwar ceramic revival, are key figures in the field. The second half of the afternoon will be devoted to20th-centuryfurniture. An oak sideboard made c. 1958 by the Artisans de Marolles—an association founded in 1950 by Jean Touret, which has returned to the spotlight in recent years—is expected to take the top spot. It is expected to fetch between €30,000 and €50,000. On March 20 (see page88 of Gazette No.12), the same auction house presented a slightly different version that, at€101,543, set a record for a piece by these artisans, whose production was limited. It will be followed by three pieces of furniture by George Nakashima, including a two-drawer walnut desk—a one-of-a-kind piece acquired by an American collector on February 28, 1970 (€12,000–15,000)— and a large dining table with a base formed by two “V” shapes joined by a floor crossbar (€20,000–30,000). This is also a one-of-a-kind piece, delivered in May 1965 to another American collector, this one residing in New Jersey.