Ocher Earthenware

Provencal Faience Collection

We are proud to offer handmade earthenware from the historic Rigo pottery works in Apt, France.

The technique, called “terres mêlées” or “jaspées” is a skillfull mixture of our French Ochers and natural clay loams that is unlike any other fine pottery or porcelain.

 

The story of Provencal Faience

From tiles to tableware, tiny pitchers to enormous garden pots, Provencal Faience is an integral element in French country style.

Provence is a region rich in clay, and over the centuries several towns, such as Aubagne, Moustiers Sainte-Marie, and Apt, were made famous for their faience earthenware products that are glazed or left a beautiful, unadorned terra cotta.

Inspired by the local Ochre loam, Provencal Faience is distinguishable by the transparency of its glaze, similar to glass, allowing the loams natural coloration to shine through. This technique, called "terres mêlées" or "jaspées" is not a glaze or painting on the surface. Rather it is a skillful mixture of colored loams revealed throughout its thickness.

Located in the heart of the Luberon Mountains, Apt's Provencal Faience earthenware appeared in the 18th century. Its production was favored by the abundance and diversity of clay soil of this region, a superb variety of yellow, red, green, brown and white clay loams.

In 1840 some 300 potteries were manufacturing Provencal Faience. But by the beginning of the 20th century, the industrial porcelain industry led to the closing of all faience pottery workshops in France.

In 1914 the Provencal Faience tradition was revived by two pottery workshops with the introduction of a new mix of ingredients, called "le flammé".

Today Rigo Studio is the only one mastering Ocher in their production and the only one using our pigments to achieve these incredible colors.

Inside the Rigo Studio: Making a Provencal Faience Water Pitcher


  • A slurry of clay loams and pigment are formed into loafs.

  • After drying these loafs are ready for the potter.

  • Forms are used to mold clay sheets into shape.

  • One half of the pitcher is shaped by the mold.

  • Ready for the kiln; one
    can faintly see the
    unique faience effect.

  • A peak into the kiln reveals
    the excuisite faience
    pitcher is finished.