Émile Tessier ceramics

Émile Tessier was one of the defining figures of the Malicorne ceramic tradition in the Sarthe region of France, and his work represents the point at which regional faience-making met genuine artistic ambition.

Working from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century, Tessier produced pieces that drew on the long French faience tradition while developing a distinctive sculptural vocabulary of his own. His white glazed pieces are particularly sought after, where surface relief takes precedence over colour and the quality of the glaze and modelling become the sole focus. Looped and textured handles, animal and fish motifs, naturalistic forms, and architectural ornament appear across the full range of his output, from tureens and oil and vinegar services designed for daily use to decorative vases, rooster pique-fleurs, and espresso services where the gold bead detail introduces a refined contrast to the matte white ground.

These pieces work on kitchen shelves and dressers, on dining tables as serveware, and grouped together on a console or sideboard where the consistency of the white glaze creates a coherent and considered display.

Each piece is carefully measured, clearly documented, and professionally photographed, with condition noted. Stock availability is maintained in real time. All ceramics ship directly from France and are packed by specialists experienced in transporting fragile faience.

Collected together, Tessier's pieces reward the kind of attention that only genuinely well-made objects can sustain over time.