Vallauris, Fire-clay   During the late 19th century, the pottery workshops moved to Vallauris. In fact, this region has a fire-quality clay ideal for pottery and the manufacture of cooking utensils. Several

small pottery kilns grouped together under a collective name to deal with competition which marked the beginning of this small industry in the area. In the early 20th century, the activity

of culinary pottery declined then the economic crisis of the 1930s occurred. Vallauris fortunately changed direction towards more artistic ceramics. With (...) Read more

François-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008) was a 20th century French sculptor. After World War II, he studied drawing and painting at the Academie Julian. In 1952, he held his first solo painting

exhibition in Paris.   He met the artists René Magritte and Salvador Dali and befriended the sculptors Constantin Brancusi and François Pompon who turned him away from his initial vocation.   He then turned

to animal sculpture, he worked in bronze, sheet-iron and resin with a strong leaning towards pure and round shapes. He was (...) Read more

  Maison Jansen   The prestigious interior decoration company Maison Jansen was created in 1880 by the Dutch born Jean-Henri Jansen. Based in Paris, on Rue Royale, the firm achieved international fame since

the beginning of the 20th century. Maison Jansen was implanted worldwide (New York, London, Buenos Aires, Cairo) and stood out as one of the brightest interior decorators.   His important clients included

the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Kennedy’s for the White House, the Shah of Iran, Coco Chanel, Helena Rubinstein and many (...) Read more

History of Chinese snuff bottles   The use of tobacco was introduced into China during the 17th century through European trade. In 1639, during the reign of Chongzhen, tobacco was popular enough

to be forbidden by an imperial edict with death being a punishment. Then, with the arrival of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) after the Manchu invasions, practices related to tobacco consumption

were encouraged by this new culture.   Tobacco in its powder form, known as snuff in Europe, required preservation. It was necessary to (...) Read more

  The jewel is above all a symbolic object. It is appreciated for its beauty and preciousness. Following World War I, all the arts participated in an unprecedented cultural revolution. The

1920s, also known as the "Golden Twenties", celebrated the exceptional alliance of taste and skill.   This style was called "Art Deco" only in 1966 after an exhibition at the Musée des

Arts Décoratifs, first entitled "The 25 Years" and then "Art Deco".     The Birth of Art Deco.   The 19th century ended when a new (...) Read more