La faïence fine à Toulouse et la Maison Fouque et Arnoux

Abstract

Toulousian White Earthenware and the Maison Fouque et Arnoux. The white earthenware, introduced in France at the end of the 18th century, based on the technique used in the production English Wedgewood, enjoyed great success among the French middle class during the first half of the 19th century. Originally from Moustier, Fouque and Arnoux settled in Montpellier where they manufactured moulded forms (of which few presently exist) and, especially, numerous series of plates with decorative patterns (21 series are known today). From 1820 to 1855, they produced white (and, less frequently, yellow) backgrounds and black decorative patterns, with rare touches of color. In general, the manufacture chose scenes representing current military events (the Independence of Greece), Parisian cityscapes, figures (knights, apostles), scenes taken from the fables of LaFontaine, representations of the months and other scenes closely linked to those used by porcelain manufacturers in the Parisian region (Creil, Montereau, Choisy-Le-Roi). The views of Toulouse and Bordeaux (where Fouque and Arnoux had a major clientele and, from where, the earthenware was exported to Spain), scenes of the history of Toulouse, based on 17th century models, and borders employing the cross of Languedoc typify the Toulousian production of Fouque and Arnoux.