Jean Puy (1876-1960), André METTHEY (1871-1920) Céramiste, A - Lot 136

Jean Puy (1876-1960), André METTHEY (1871-1920) Céramiste, Ambroise VOLLARD (1866-1939) Éditeur "Les faunesses" Grand feu faïence vase Signed and dated 1907 under the base Unique piece H 36 cm Provenance : Purchase Christies' 2018 Bibliography : Reproduced on p 121 of the catalog for the exhibition JEAN PUY / AMBROISE VOLLARD Un fauve et son marchand, Exhibition organized by the Musée Joseph Déchelette in Roanne, and the Musée de Pont-Aven, curated by Claude ALLEMAND, Eric Pierre MOINET and Jean-Paul MOREL from December 12, 2020 to January 2, 2022 Spurred on by Ambroise Vollard, an advocate of fauve painters, so-called fauve ceramics saw the light of day in 1906, in André Metthey's studio. The previous year, Emile Loubet, President of the Republic, refused to open the third Salon d'Automne at the Grand Palais. The reason: Room VII, featuring paintings by Camoin, Derain, Manguin, Marquet, Matisse and Vlaminck, was deemed unacceptable by the critics. They spoke of "shapeless bariolages", "delirious brushes", "a mixture of bottle wax and parrot feathers". A bust placed at the center of the piece prompted Louis Vauxcelles to write: "It's Donatello among the wild beasts". What came to be known as l'Ecole d'Asnières, the small town where André Metthey lived and worked, brought together the best artists of the day, including André Derain, Georges Rouault, Maurice de Vlaminck, Henri Matisse, Jean Puy, Kees van Dongen, Achille-Emile Othon Friesz and Louis Valtat. The 1907 Salon d'Automne marked the history of fauve ceramics with the 108 pieces André Metthey chose to exhibit, all collaborative works with the movement's painters. Unfortunately, Ambroise Vollard never succeeded in marketing these paintings on earthenware. All too few collectors took the decision to acquire these works. The adventure was short-lived, and very few ceramics came out of André Metthey's kiln. He soon turned to the stoneware pottery for which he became famous. Reminder: In accordance with the conditions of sale, the buyer is responsible for the droit de suite on this lot (4% of the hammer price only from €750 up to €50,000, decreasing thereafter). Article GAZETTE DROUT https://www.roannencheres.com/uploads/File/Consulterl'articleGazetteDrouot.pdf