Planter with column in blue glazed earthenware St Amand, France circa 1880/1900

Rare planter with three clawed feet on its column, decorated with Chinese motifs of dragons, gadroons, acanthus leaves and bamboo in the taste of Minton, very fashionable under Napoleon III.

Story

The pottery industry in Saint-Amand-les-Eaux dates back to the 17th century, but it was in the 18th century that the town really began to flourish. The abundance of clay and the proximity of the Scheldt River, which facilitated transport, encouraged the development of workshops.

In the 19th century, the factory modernized and expanded its production, adapting to bourgeois and popular tastes, then the Saint-Amand pottery merged with other neighboring factories: Saint-Amand and Hamage, then Saint-Amand, Orchies, and Hamage (S.A.O.R.) at the beginning of the 20th century. These mergers made it possible to strengthen competitiveness in the face of the rise of large pottery centers such as Sarreguemines and Lunéville.

Like many manufacturers, the Saint-Amand pottery factory suffered from industrial and foreign competition in the 20th century. Production slowed down and then stopped completely in the second half of the century.

To know more, please read the Wikipedia page (in French)