Enameled ceramic fish dish by Jean Austruy in Vallauris, 1950s

A glazed ceramic dish in the shape of a fish, made by Jean Austruy in Vallauris in the 1950s . This decorative and utilitarian piece represents the revival of French ceramics after the war, where forms inspired by the animal world and nature occupy a central place.

The stylized silhouette of the fish, with its supple and slightly asymmetrical lines, is enhanced by an incised and rhythmic decoration , evoking scales and undulations, highlighted by a deep reddish-brown glaze punctuated with mottled bluish-grey effects. The center of the dish, intentionally lighter, provides a striking contrast and creates a beautiful graphic effect. The glaze displays beautiful textural effects, characteristic of the research conducted in Vallauris in the 1950s.

Born in Castres in 1910 , Jean Austruy trained in drawing and sculpture at the Fine Arts schools of Montpellier and Paris . Settling in Saint-Marcellin (Isère) after the Second World War, he abandoned teaching to devote himself entirely to handcrafted ceramics. A self-taught potter, he developed a rich body of work blending modernized forms, incised decoration (sgraffito), archaic influences, and glaze experiments , all while maintaining a utilitarian function.

A member of the ceramicists' trade association , he exhibited notably at the 1953 Salon d'Automne , alongside major figures such as Georges Jouve, Jacques Blin, Pol Chambost, and Roger Capron . Awarded the Gold Medal of Prestige of French Craftsmanship , Jean Austruy belongs to that generation which, like Suzanne Ramié (Madoura) and Robert Picault , reinvented traditional pottery, transforming it into a modern and expressive art form.

Features

• Era : 1950s

• Style : Vallauris, modernist, animal decoration, art ceramics

• Creator : Jean Austruy

• Material : Glazed ceramic

Dimensions

• Height : 3.2 cm ( 1.26 inches )

• Length : 29 cm ( 11.42 inches )

• Width : 18.5 cm ( 7.28 inches )

• Weight : 620 g ( 1.37 lbs )

State

Very good overall condition. Minor irregularities and marks related to the handcrafted production and firing process. Enamel well preserved.

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