Knife Rest With Nautical Decoration - Charles Maillard - Henriot Factory - Brittany

Polychrome earthenware, circa 1930.
Sold individually.

Charles Maillard (1876-1973):
Sculptor and ceramist born in Cholet. Charles Maillard studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Angers before entering the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he frequented the studios of two renowned sculptors, Louis-Ernest Barrias and Jules-Félix Coutan, as well as the Académie Julian.
From 1901, Charles Maillard exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Français. He also competed for the Prix de Rome, though he did not win. Among his major works are numerous war memorials erected after the First World War. He collaborated with the Henriot factory during the interwar period, producing numerous groups of pieces, often related to tableware.
In 1926, Charles Maillard signed a contract with the Sèvres porcelain factory, a testament to the recognition of his talent in the field of ceramics. Although the specific details of this collaboration are less documented than his work with the Henriot factory in Quimper, this association with Sèvres indicates his commitment to high-quality projects and his integration into the prestigious artistic circles of the time. Breton themes appear in his work from 1926 onward.