François Pinchon "Terres Mêlées" Bowl,

Uzès, France circa 1865-70.

3" H x 14" Diameter

Biography of François Pinchon

In 1826, François Pichon was 22 years old. The town of Uzès (in southern France near Provence) was then experiencing a new heyday thanks to the arrival of faïence workers from Valenciennes (northern France), who chose the region for its famous clay deposits. This new competition for the potters of Uzès created a climate of emulation, ideal for the young François to learn his trade, in which his talent and creativity very soon won him renown. So much so that he bought the equipment from his employer and set up his own workshop, with a single watchword : creativity.

Very soon, the business, which involved the entire family, prospered and expanded. One day, around 1860, François Pichon had the idea of mixing different types of clay from the surrounding hills with their naturally oxidized colors. Thus, he created what would become the family's finest secret, the crowning achievement of the Pichon pottery, the famous "Marbrés" or  "Terres Mêlées" (marbled ceramics) characteristic of the Pichon know-how and highly prized by collectors. François was then working with his sons, including Nicolas, who showed peerless mastery of the art of faïence and a potter's virtue and succeeded his father on December 8, 1877.