Haviland Pottery: American Art Pottery from Limoges-Trained Artisans
Haviland Pottery refers specifically to the art pottery and decorative faience produced under the Haviland name, distinct from the firm's mainstream tableware production. This includes the innovative art pottery created at the Auteuil studio in Paris (1873-1882) under the direction of Felix Bracquemond and Ernest Chaplet, and later experimental and artistic productions. These pieces represent some of the most important and valuable Haviland production, bridging the gap between industrial porcelain manufacture and the art pottery movement.
History and Development
- 1873: Charles Haviland establishes an art pottery studio at Auteuil, a suburb of Paris
- 1873-1882: Felix Bracquemond serves as artistic director; Ernest Chaplet manages the ceramic workshop
- 1875-1882: The Auteuil studio produces innovative stoneware and faience with Japanese-influenced decoration
- 1882: Chaplet leaves to work independently; the Auteuil studio's most creative period ends
- 1880s-1890s: Haviland continues experimental ceramic work alongside commercial porcelain production
- The Auteuil studio pieces are among the most significant examples of Japonisme in French ceramics
- Production was always limited compared to the main Limoges factories
Types and Characteristics
- Auteuil stoneware: Japanese-influenced forms with underglaze painted decoration by Bracquemond, Chaplet, and others
- Barbotine ware: Slip-painted decoration on faience bodies; naturalistic floral and landscape subjects
- Art faience: Decorative earthenware pieces with artistic painted decoration
- Experimental glazes: Chaplet's pioneering work in flambé and sang-de-boeuf glazes while at Auteuil
- Japonisme designs: Decoration inspired by Japanese prints, nature, and aesthetics
- Exhibition pieces: Special works created for international expositions and exhibitions
Identification
- Auteuil studio pieces bear distinctive marks including "H & Co" with "Auteuil" or specific artist marks
- Bracquemond-designed pieces may carry his monogram or signature
- Chaplet's pieces sometimes bear his rosary-bead mark (chapelet means rosary in French)
- Art pottery pieces are distinctly different in body, glaze, and decoration from commercial Haviland tableware
- The stoneware body is heavier and coarser than the refined Limoges porcelain
- Documentation and provenance are particularly important for these artistic pieces
Auction Price Ranges
| Item Type | Typical Range | Premium Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Barbotine-decorated piece | $100 - $400 | Fine painting: $500 - $1,500 |
| Auteuil studio vase | $500 - $2,000 | Bracquemond design: $3,000 - $10,000 |
| Chaplet experimental glaze | $800 - $3,000 | Exceptional: $5,000 - $15,000 |
| Art faience plate or tile | $100 - $400 | Exhibition piece: $600 - $2,000 |
| Japonisme-decorated piece | $300 - $1,200 | Important example: $2,000 - $8,000 |
| Exhibition or documented piece | $1,000 - $5,000 | Museum quality: $8,000 - $30,000+ |
Condition Factors
- The stoneware and faience bodies are more vulnerable to chipping than hard-paste porcelain
- Painted decoration should be intact and unfaded; rubbed or worn decoration reduces value
- Experimental glazes may show crazing or crawling that was part of the original firing process
- Restorations should be examined under UV light
- Provenance and documentation significantly affect value for these artistic pieces
- Pieces from the Auteuil studio period (1873-1882) are the most important and should be carefully authenticated
Collecting Tips
- Auteuil studio pieces represent the most artistically significant and valuable Haviland ceramic production
- These pieces should be understood as art pottery rather than commercial tableware; they compete in the fine art ceramics market
- Felix Bracquemond's designs are historically important as early examples of Japonisme in French decorative arts
- Ernest Chaplet's glaze experiments at Auteuil launched one of the most important careers in French art pottery
- Do not confuse Haviland art pottery with the firm's standard Limoges porcelain tableware; they are entirely different markets
- Exhibition and exposition pieces with documentation command the highest prices
- The field is specialized; consult references on French art pottery and the Japonisme movement