Provencal Pottery

The Provence region has produced earthenware since the days of the Romans. Pottery workshops, complete with kilns dating from the first century AD have been excavated in La Butte de Carnes near Marseille. Over the centuries, pottery continued to be made in individual workshops, both for domestic use and for export through the Mediterranean seaports. Then in the 19th century, factories began to appear in answer to the ever-growing demand for thrown or moulded cookware. But with the advent of new materials such as aluminium and plastic, these factories eventually closed.

Nowadays most provençal pottery is primarily decorative and three basic types of pottery are produced. Terre rouge, the most robust, is made primarily from the red clay of the region and then glazed. Our products from Poterie Galtie fall into this category. Faience is made from the finest local clays and can be distinguished from plain pottery by its enamel porcelain-like finish. This is the style of pottery you can see in our Festin Coquin range. The third style of pottery is Gres, made out of clay from central France.

Provence abounds with workshops where skilled artisans continue the best traditions of pottery making, producing attractive, colourful designs by hand. Look out for the many pottery fairs that take place throughout the region, particularly in the Summer. Aubagne in particular has a fantastic pottery market which draws in talented artisans to show their wares from all around the region. But whether you buy from a workshop, a boutique or a market, you really shouldn't leave Provence without a piece of local pottery!

Sue Aitken is the owner of Boutique Provencale which offers French Gifts and French Home Accessories.