The area around Desvres is known for its earthenware pottery production. Most of these potteries are branches of the Fourmaintraux family that specialized in Delft tile and elaborately decorated faience. These is one, however, sold by the Fourmaintraux family to Francis Masse in the early 20th century, that followed contemporary trends and briefly became a manufacturer of lead glazed majolica.
History
The potteries of Desvres had their start in 1764 when lawyer and notary Maître Jean-Fraçois Pierre Sta founded a pottery at Desvres’ Grand Place. He hired potters from Saint-Amand-Les-Eaux and Saint-Omar who were experienced in Delft to operate the works. Their initial work was primitive tin glazed terracotta in the Dutch manner with hand painted decoration. In 1784 his son Augusta-Eloi Sta took over the management of the pottery and began production of Delft tiles. In 1802 he sold the pottery to his cousin Louis Alexandre Dupré-Poulain who ran the pottery until 1812 when it was closed.
Delft from Fourmaintraux Desvres
A painter/turner named François-Joseph Fourmaintraux came to Desvres in 1798 looking for work. He found work at Sta’s pottery. In 1804 he founded a small pottery. in direct competition with Sta. His success allowed him to expand to a larger facility in 1839 in an area called “le Gazon”. In 1841 his son Louis-François assumed control of the works and continued the expansion by adding additional kilns. The company specialized in bricks and tiles and employed 29 employees by 1860. By 1872 that number would increase to 41 as Louis-François increased his export business. In 1879 he handed management to his two sons Jules and Émile who named the pottery “Fourmaintraux Freres” while two other brothers, Gabriel and Charles split to form their own potteries.
Gabriel Fourmaintraux
Desvres 18th century faience tea caddy
Fourmaintraux faience tile of Venus and a hippocampus
Desvres 19th century faience platter
Desvres 19th century faience vase
Desvres 19th century faience vase
Undated photo of workers at the faïencerie at Desvres
At Fourmaintraux Freres, Émile specialized in the design of the faience while Jules handles the business side of the factory. In 1885 the company expanded to art pottery. In 1889 Émile sold his shares in the factory to Jules to open his own pottery. Jules operated the pottery alone until the pottery was sold to Francis Masse in 1903 who engaged Jules Fourmaintraux’s assistance in running the pottery for about a year after buying it.
Catalog cover for the Jules Fourmaintraux faiencerie
Tiles from Desvres Fourmaintraux Masse, who was from Saint-Amand-les-Eaux, concentrated on manufacturing faience tiles from 1903 until 1914 and the onset of WW1. He also began his production of majolica and other art pottery. When he died in 1923 the pottery management was assumed by his widow and then by two of his sons, Jacques and Robert who concentrated production on faience but also produced some majolica.
Faïencerie Desvres Fourmaintraux Masse on Rue des Potiers 1909
Fourmaintraux Masse ottery staff c. 1903
Fourmaintraux Masee staff c.1910 Fourmaintraux Masse staff c. 1909 Invoice from the Masse factory
Correspondence from Desvres Masse 1916
Invoice from the Masse factory 1917
Correspondence from Desvres Masse 1916
Faience tile mural from the interior of the former Masse Freres factory
Faience tile mural from the interior of the former Masse Freres factory
Feaience designs at the Masse factory
Faience from the Francis Masse showroom
The German occupation of France had a deleterious effect on the company. The brothers rebranded the company as Masse Freres in 1942 surviving through the war by the production of utilitarian items, faience tiles and through the production of majolica cemetery and garden decor. The company suffered losses when parts of the faïencerie were bombed by Allied forces.
After the war the company underwent a succession of partnerships, consolidations and a bankruptcy in 1970 that allowed it to continue operation under the Masse Freres name until 1982 when the Masse family finally sold the company to Jean Muselet. The company name was then changed to Les Artistes Faïenciers.
Majolica
The majolica from Desvres is often difficult to identify thanks to their uneven marking system. Fortunately catalogs and photographs from the company showroom survive giving us a guide to their output.
Majolica from the Francis Masse showroom
Photos from the Desvres showroom
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica garniture set
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica jardiniere
Desvres majolica fish vase
Desvres majolica vase
Desvres majolica wall pocket
Pitchers from Fourmaintraux Masse
Desvres majolica Pichet Marguerite
Desvres majolica Pichet Raisin
Desvres majolica Pichet Pavot
Desvres majolica Pichet Floral
Desvres majolica Pichet Floral
Desvres majolica Pichet Tête
Desvres Pichet Bacchus
Desvres majolica Pichet Napoléon
Desvres majolica Pichet Napoléon c.1930
Desvres majolica Pichet Polin after a popular singer
Desvres majolica rabbit bank
Desvres majolica character bank
Desvres majolica priest bank
Desvres majolica dove bank
Desvres majolica pear wall bank
Desvres majolica Pichet Poisson
Desvres majolica Pichet Coq
Desvres majolica Pichet Pingouin
Desvres majolica Pichet Cochon
Desvres majolica Pichet Coq, copy of the Onnaing pitcher “ “When that rooster crows, we'll drink on the house"
Desvres majolica Pichet Cochon
Desvres majolica Pichet Canard
Desvres majolica Pichet Cochon
Desvres majolica Pichet Chien Garde Champêtre
Desvres majolica frog pitcher Esmirelda
Desvres majolica Pichet Merle
Desvres majolica pitcher
Desvres majolica elephant pitcher
Desvres majolica terrine
Marks
As I mentioned earlier the company didn’t mark their majolica with any regularity but when they did they used Francis Masse’s initials, an interlocking FM, in a shield embossed on the base.
Mark for Desvres Fourmaintraux Masse
Mark for Desvres Fourmaintraux Masse
Desvres majolica is difficult to find outside of Europe. Their export business was largely limited to their faience tile production, which was quite large. As is the case for most majolica, animal pieces are more popular than the others consequently bringing higher prices.
Facade of the former Masse Freres. Faiencerie doday covered in faience tiles.
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