Puisaye sandstone tray signed Jean-Pierre Prud’homme

Magnificent stoneware tray from Puisaye with a beautiful, slightly pyrite glaze in soft ecru, caramel, and chocolate colors—a material and color scheme typical of the 1970s. Its design is very elegant, very flat, with gently curved handles. A fine piece of craftsmanship by the potter Jean-Pierre Prud’homme, who signed it on the underside. Jean-Pierre Prud’homme and his wife founded a pottery workshop in 1971 in Monnaie, working with clay from the Nièvre region (Puisaye stoneware). This workshop still exists today (Atelier Au Grès du Vent), run by his son Benoît, who took over in the 1990s and 2000s and also creates beautiful ceramics. This tray dates from the 1970s and is in perfect condition, with no cracks, chips, or even a single nick (contrary to what one might think from the photos of the tray, these are merely reflections or "effects" of the glaze). The tray measures 33 cm wide including handles, 29 cm in diameter with a thickness of 1 cm (and 1.5 at the handles) maximum of 1.5 cm.