Robert Picault Vallauris Ceramic Tea Cup & Saucer, France, C. 1960

A charming French ceramic tea cup and matching saucer by Robert Picault, produced in Vallauris on the French Riviera circa 1960. Both pieces are signed underneath with the artist’s distinctive hand-painted “RP” mark.

The set features Picault’s instantly recognizable Mediterranean palette of deep cobalt blue, turquoise green and creamy white. The cup is decorated with bold hand-painted spiral motifs alternating with geometric linear designs, while the saucer displays a particularly striking border of repeated white spirals against a rich cobalt-blue ground. Turquoise edging beautifully frames both pieces and brings the composition together.

The slightly irregular forms, visible brushwork and subtle variations in the glaze are characteristic of hand-crafted Vallauris pottery and give the set its wonderful individuality. The generous rounded cup is complemented by a simple loop handle accented in blue and green.

Robert Picault was an important figure in the post-war Vallauris ceramic movement and worked alongside artists and ceramicists including Pablo Picasso during this particularly creative period on the Côte d’Azur. His distinctive tableware remains highly decorative and collectible today.

A wonderful example of mid-century French studio pottery, equally appealing as a collectible piece or as a colourful addition to a Robert Picault collection.

Dimensions: Cup H 5.5 cm x Ø 9.5 cm x W 12 cm; Saucer H 2 cm x Ø 15 cm.