18th Century. Joseph Olerys Factory. Dish With Grotesques Decoration

Joseph Olerys is one of the master potters who made Moustiers famous. Born in Marseille in 1697, he trained in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie with Clerissy. He was director of the Alcora factory for several years, then returned to Moustiers where he partnered with his brother-in-law, Jean-Baptiste Laugier, in 1739. The dish we are presenting represents an archetype of the production with grotesque decoration. Here, virtuosity is pushed to its limits, using several colors of enamel and filling the dish with amusing scenes from a fantastical bestiary and unusual plant motifs. At the bottom of the dish, the painter has playfully camouflaged an excess of material by creating the body of a large bird. The dish is, of course, signed with Joseph Olerys's monogram and also bears the painter's mark nearby. A slight, uniform crack in the enamel is also present. The entire set is in perfect condition.