Robj Coffee/tea Service, Villeroy & Boch, 1930

Jean Born, known as ROBJ, rare complete tea or coffee service for 12 people in ivory and gold ceramic, "wave" handle model, signed Robj in Paris, imported from Luxembourg as it was produced by Villeroy & Boch, circa 1930. It includes: 1 teapot, 1 milk jug, 1 sugar bowl, 12 cups and saucers. The story begins in 1908 with Jean Born, whose name was later changed to Robj. In 1922, he died in a car accident, and Lucien Willmetz, a shareholder in the company, took over its management. He was the one who truly influenced and shaped the Robj style. He favored and encouraged designers and artists and established a competition for "ceramic art objects." Robj was not a manufacturer in the strict sense of the term, the manufacturing was entrusted to subcontractors such as Sèvres, Limoges and Villeroy and Boch, but he can nevertheless be considered an important promoter of art deco in the field of ceramics.