Origin Story of the Renowned 17th Century Poterie d'Anduze French Ceramic Vase from Provence

January 14, 2025

If you have been to Provence, you may know its beauty.  If you have never been to Provence, you could imagine it.  Fields of lavender and poppy, the smell of thyme, and sunshine illuminating medieval villages with terra cotta roof tiles called tuiles.  There are other hallmarks that define Provence - from local honey and Provençal fabric to carafes of rosé and Banon, the small round goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves.  Do you notice a theme here?  Provence's gifts come directly from mother nature via artisans honing these crafts for a millennial.

One of mother nature's cherished Provençal gifts is geological clay deposits, particularly within the Cévennes mountain range. Over millions of years, the intense weathering of rocks in the Cévennes - this sedimentation, has been transported by rivers and streams into the Provençal valleys and basins.  Over time, the result has become a thick accumulation of layers of clay. Geographically, a small town called Anduze is situated directly in the foothills of the Cévennes Mountain Range, and since the 16th century, Anduze artisans have crafted pottery from this clay. 

Life in Provence

However, it took a century later for the famous Provençal Anduze French pottery to be created. The history of the Anduze vase can be traced back to a 17th century potter from Anduze, who traveled to Italy.  While there, he was captivated by the elegance of the Italian Medici potteries.  He observed ornate marble vessels, often decorated with intricate designs, most popular among the wealthy and influential Medici family. 

Medici Family Gardens and Marble Vessel circa 15th century

Upon returning to Anduze, the potter sought to recreate the beauty and grandeur of the Medici vases, adapting their forms, material used and decorative elements to suit his own style and the local clay traditions of his small Provençal town. Over time the Anduze French pottery evolved into a distinct style, characterized by it's large, bulbous shape - often adorned with decorative motifs like garlands, flowers and fruits, and glazed with the colors he lived with in Provence - lavender blue, thyme green and rich ochre yellow.  Since the 17th century, the Anduze vase has become a symbol of French pottery, and is renowned worldwide for its unique blend of Italian inspiration and regional craftsmanship.  

Anduze, France - Artisan Potter from La Poterie de la Madeleine

Since the Italian Medici vase from the 17th century greatly influenced the renowned Anduze French pottery of today, the question remains, from where did the Medici vase style originate? Who doesn't love an origin story?

Origin Story of the Italian Medici Vase 

This story begins with the Medici family, a powerful and influential dynasty in Florence, Italy during the Italian Renaissance.  The Italian Renaissance was a period of great cultural and artistic flourishing, due to a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman art, that spanned from the 14th to 16th centuries.

Bronzino, Eleonora di Toledo and Francesco de’ Medici, c. 1550

In the early Renaissance of the 15th century, this powerful banking family became major patrons of the arts.  Known for their wealth and art patronage, they amassed a vast collection of art and antiquities.  Since the Renaissance was a period of renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman art, the Medici, as avid collectors, acquired numerous ancient artifacts, including sculptures, vases and other decorative objects.

Among the Medici's collection were likely ancient Roman marble vases, often characterized by their grand scale, elaborate ornamentation and classical motifs. These Greek and Roman marble vases served as inspiration for the development of the distinctive "Medici Vase" style.  Under the patronage of the Medici, Renaissance artists and craftsmen began to create their own versions of these ancient vases.  They adapted classical forms and incorporated Renaissance aesthetics and their own decorative elements.

ROMAN MARBLE CINERARY URNS CIRCA A.D. 50-100, WITH 18TH CENTURY RESTORATIONS Christie’s

When the 17th century potter from Anduze traveled to Florence, he witnessed the stunning beauty of these vases. They were typically large and imposing, reflecting the grandeur associated with the Medici family.  Mostly carved from solid marble, they were heavily decorated with intricate carvings, moldings and bas-reliefs depicting mythological scenes, figures and decorative motifs - all symbols of wealth, power and cultural sophistication, associated with the opulent lifestyle of the Medici family.

 16th century Medici Hand Carved Marble Vessel

The opulent lifestyle of the Medici family was perhaps not the lifestyle of the potter from provençal Anduze.  Nonetheless, this potter returned to his small provençal village where his inspirations from the Medici vase took flight. Working with the region's abundant clay deposits, he recreated those Medici vases in a singular style: distinctive bulbous shape, colorful glazed finishes and decorations of heraldic shields, garlands of flowers, and horizontal stripes - hence, the remarkable Anduze French pottery we see today.

Righteous Beauty of La Poterie de la Madeleine Terra Cotta Vases in Anduze, France

It is true that Anduze has several pottery workshops, but its La Poterie de La Madeleine in Anduze that is the most renowned.  This pottery workshop is dedicated to preserving the authentic 17th century methods of the Anduze French vase - maintaining its original French identity with exemplary, artisanal craftsmanship. Due to their passion and respect for their history, La Poterie de la Madeleine is the pinnacle of the original 17th century Anduze French pottery.  These are the Provençal French potteries, known worldwide, for their majestic and refined presence. They adorn gardens from the Palace de Versailles and opulent homes in the south of France to provençal farmhouses. 

With our company's history rooted in Provence -  François being born in Apt and visiting often means spending time and meals with his parents, brother, cousins, friends - it made sense for us to bring into our company the potteries of François' childhood and culture.  These exemplary terra cotta potteries will forever be a beloved hallmark of Provence, bringing authenticity, history and Provençal sunshine into your home gardens and interior decor.

Poppy fields near L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, lunch among brothers in Le Thor, Anduze Vase in Ménerbes, Provence

Thank you for your time,

Emmi Micallef,
Co-founder Historic Decorative Materials,
A Division of Pavé Tile, Wood & Stone, Inc.

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