I previously mentioned the pottery at Nimy-les-Mons in my post on Onnaing. Both potteries were founded by Charles, Knight de Bousies and his cousin Frederick, Baron of Sécus. The pottery at Nimy is the older of the two having been established in Belgium in 1798.
The pottery had a long history, potting earthenware and faience through the first half of the 19th century. before entering the majolica market in mid century. In 1849 the pottery was sold to Jean-Pierre Mouzin, Théophile Lecat and additional shareholders. In 1851 it was reorganized and incorporated under the name Société Mouzin-Lecat et Cie. It was under Mouzin that the pottery began making majolica. In 1858 Mouzin also became administrator of the potteries at Onnaing and Wasmuēl.
The period between 1851 and 1890 was the company’s peak period of majolica manufacture. Like many of the majolica designs that originate in Brussels and France, themes relating to nature are the most common with designs sharing a similar look. Glazes tend to be of a pastel nature with floral designs dominating. This shouldn’t be a surprise considering all three manufacturers, Onnaing, Nimy-les-Mons and Wasnuēl, were administrated by Mouzin.
In addition to designs originating in their own potteries, Nimy-les-Mons in particular copied numerous designs by English potteries.
By 1897 the factory had grown to a workforce of 675 employees. The following year the company went public. The lack of interest in majolica around the turn of the century affected the company’s prosperity so they turned their attention to other forms of earthenware and faience as their main forms of production.
Decline
The onset of WWI and the invasion of Brussels by Germany in 1914 had a devastating effect on the company, reducing its workforce, export markets and ability to access suitable materials, but still the company had made its niche in faience and decorative earthenware and continued a reduced production. In 1921 the company was sold to Société Céramique de Maëstricht which concentrated its manufacture on faience.
The onset of a second invasion of Brussels by Germany in 1940 at the beginning of World War 2 again severely crippled the company’s export market. A brief resurgence in business between 1943 and 1950 wasn't enough to prevent bankruptcy. The company closed and four years later the pottery was demolished.
Marks
The company used a number of different printed marks on their wares.
Today some of the shapes produced at Nimy are still being reproduced by other companies proving their lasting public appeal.
