Accolay, blue ceramic vase, "gauloise" collection, 1960s

ACCOLAY, ceramic vase with blue glaze, "Gauloise" collection, 1960s. Signed "ACCOLAY" under the base. Height: 33 cm; Diameter up to 19 cm. Very good condition. This baluster-shaped vase is characterised by its striped decoration alternating between turquoise blue and black. The outer material is not smooth; it is rough and grainy, very pleasant to the touch, contrasting with the smooth and shiny black glazed interior. These pieces were produced in the 1960s (around 1960-1965), belonging to the golden age of the Accolay potters. Its dimension of 33 cm makes it a large version of this model, which also exists in heights of 20 to 26 cm. Between 1945 and 1989, a group of four potters (founder André Boutaud, Louis Dangon, Slavik Palissy, and Jean Marie) settled in the village of Accolay in Yonne, near Dijon. They created ceramics with bold shapes, bright glazes, and original materials (integration of glass, wire, or resin). The pottery closed permanently in 1989 due to the opening of the A6 motorway: the success of the pottery relied on its exhibition hall located on National Route 6, where holidaymakers stopped on their way south. The commissioning of the motorway gradually diverted this flow of tourists. The disappearance of founder André Boutaud, a charismatic figure and creative driving force of the collective, weakened the workshop's dynamics. Production dwindled and lost its originality. Today, pieces stamped "Accolay" (vases, ashtrays, jugs, masks) are highly sought after by enthusiasts of 20th-century design. Located in Paris Sentier (75002).