Style Art Nouveau / Ref.03128

Umbrella - holder in majolique by Massier

Light plays along the green curves of this green glazed enamel ceramic umbrella stand. None of the surfaces are flat, everything is curves, hollows and bulges reflecting the light in many different ways. This object is a tour de force: resting on a wave-like base, it rises up in a flowing mixture of holes and fulls up to a bearded man’s face that seems to ooze out of the surfaces. The stand seems to step right out of a garden with its colors and flowing shapes reminiscent of trees, knotted roots and moss. Imitating nature was a signature of Delphin Massier’s work of this period and was also very fashionable. In a posthumous catalogue of his productions, dated 1908, which reproduced his most famous work, there is a similar umbrella stand (n° 1110) with the same head, base and general shape. However the one we are presenting here is much more elaborate and has more openings, showing Delphin’s constant quest for new forms and perfection. Although functional his work is highly artistic.

Delphin Massier belonged to a dynasty of potters established in Vallauris. The family played a key role in introducing artistic pottery to the town. His grand-father, Pierre Massier (1707-1748), “master earth potter” was the founder of a line of ceramists. At first, the company focused on manufacturing functional objects for a local market.  But the Massier quickly started to innovate, creating artistic ceramics. This new type of production began in 1859, when an Italian potter from Bologna, Gandolfi Gaetano came to work for Jacques Massier, Delphin’s father. There are many written sources that speak to the important role the Italian played in the company, notably by teaching new techniques to Delphin and his brother Clément such as enamel techniques, the use of plaster molds to make series of smaller objects and vases of Neo-Classical inspiration. His main contribution was a new decoration technique of glazed ceramics, of which this umbrella stand is a later example. From then on, the Massier company grew, their very original creations setting them apart from other Vallauris based companies. Little by little, their production focused more and more exclusively on art. Delphin, Clément and cousin Jérome Jr, created companies that could not rival the great ceramic facturies of the 19th century but were definitely more than family workshops, employing rather large amounts of people - Delphin employed 93 persons in 1897. They created a market network in the region, and sold their work via catalogues - which today allow us to identify the make of this umbrella stand.