Pignatier Big White Bowl
The French Trade Commission invited us to the South of France for a week in October to visit local artisans who had received the EPV designation*. The studio of Lou Pignatier was one of two “poteries” we visited. The family firm of Gilles Compas and his wife, Christine, creates pottery in the traditional ways, carrying out all the operations itself: turning, decorating, and glazing.
The extraordinary richness and depths of the
colors are
truly striking. We love the understated simplicity of the shapes, their
perfection. This wonderful Big White Bowl will become a favorite, you can use it with any table setting; you'll love its usefulness and versatility as
well as the artistry that created it.
During a photo shoot of one of our tablecloths recently, we filled the bowl with hydrangeas. It was so pretty that we decided to use this photo instead. The only problem is the scale: the bowl is much bigger than it appears here. It measures 14" in diameter and 4 1/4" tall.
*The Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (Living Heritage Company, or EPV) label is a mark of recognition of the French Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Employment, put in place to reward French firms for the excellence of their traditional and industrial skills. The companies, their products, and their manner of production are carefully examined, and only a few are considered worthy of the designation. The EPV label requires a number of specific criteria, including: “They put into practice rare skills that draw on a mastery of traditional techniques.” The studio of Lou Pignatier exemplifies this.
