Jean Lerat (1913-1992), Jacqueline Lerat (1920-2009), Set Of 9 Nativity Figures, 1950

Set of 9 nativity scene figures composed of the Virgin Mary, the baby Jesus, Joseph, three shepherds and the three wise men. All the pieces are signed JJ LERAT. Probably a special order. Period around 1950 Jean Lerat (1913-1992) & Jacqueline Lerat (1920-2009) Jean Lerat (1913-1992) and Jacqueline Lerat, née Bouvet (1920-2009), his wife, are two French ceramicists. Biographies [edit | edit source] Jean and Jacqueline Lerat set up as potters in La Borne in 1943, when the ceramic tradition of this commune was in full decline. They chose a mode of artistic expression using stoneware and wood firing. They thus continued the tradition of potters established in this village since the 16th century: an illustrated ceramic popularized by Marie Talbot. Their initial production consisted of functional pieces: bottles, tobacco jars, vases and figurines of a religious nature. Their works were in the spirit of Paul Beyer, who also worked in La Borne, and whose kiln they used after his death. From 1955, their style broke with tradition. A new step was taken in their workshop in Bourges where they now experimented with sculpture and developed a more secular production. At that time, they participated in the New Modernity movement.