The Majolica of Fives-Lille

The story of the majolica of Fives-Lille begins which Antione Gustave De Bruyn, a fourth generation potter from Belgium. In 1864 he left Belgium and moved to Fives-Lille, a community in the northern part of France to make his fortune in the French pottery trade.

He began by building his own factory for the production of clay pipes and whistles. Soon the business was expanded to include earthenware and stoneware for daily use. Art pottery and the newly popular majolica were incorporated into the company's catalog in 1887. Soon majolica became the body of choice for the production of humidors, jardinières, vases and umbrella stands. The company's silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889, was a testament to its success.

Fives-Lille majolica vase

Fives-Lille majolica peacock vase

Fives-Lille majolica vase

Fives-Lille majolica dragon vase

Fives-Lille majolica vase

Fives-Lille majolica frog pitcher

Rare Fives-Lille frog pitcher variant 

Fives-Lille majolica pig pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica Chien bien timide

Fives-Lille majolica owl pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica tiger jug

Fives-Lille majolica pitcher

Five-Lille majolica St. Joan pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica policeman and thief pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica lily pitcher

Fives-Lille majolica oranges plaque

Fives-Lille majolica apple plaque

Fives-Lille majolica St. Joan plate

Fives-Lille majolica plate

Fives-Lille majolica oyster plate

Fives-Lille majolica oyster server

Fives-Lille majolica asparagus server

Fives-Lille majolica smoke set

Fives-Lille majolica morning glory wall pocket

Fives-Lille majolica floral wall pocket

Fives-Lille majolica duck wall pocket

Fives-Lille sole wall pocket

Fives-Lille majolica marine wall pocket

Fives-Lille Saytr wall pocket

Fives-Lille majolica salamander

Fives-Lille majolica tabacco jar Hoche

Fives-Lille majolica tank tobacco

Fives-Lile majolica barbotine jardiniere

Fives-Lille majolica jardiniere

Fives-Lille majolica jardiniere

Fives-Lille majolica jardiniere

Soon the company was employing 300+ locals in the production of majolica, sanitary wares and art pottery. The company's large European majolica and art pottery export trade attracted the attention of designers throughout France. Among those who collaborated with the pottery were Louis Majorelle, the designer of extraordinary art nouveau furniture and Rene Lalique who was famous for his distinctive jewelry and glassware. It took the onset of WWI and a devastating fire in 1917 to cut short the company's success.

By the mid 1920's the company was back to production. It enjoyed prosperity with Art Deco pottery and ceramic clocks until the early 1930's when economic and political factors in Europe shut down the factory. Closed for the duration of WWII, the pottery opened again after the war. It was sold in 1950 and resumed limited production until 1962 when the company was dissolved.

A look at the company catalog testifies to its success in majolica. The design of their whimsical animal pitchers and Art Nouveau flower themed wares remain their most popular work with collectors. They also made limited ware in the palissy style for collectors of that genre.

The company marked their wares with both impressed marks and ink marks but always in a variation of an anchor with the De Bruyn initials. Today, majolica prices for De Bruyn majolica have remained steady which speaks quite well for their enduring appeal.

Majolica in the Movies: "From the Terrace"

Who would have suspected that a steamy pot boiler from 1960 set in the business world of New York City with husband and wife acting team Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward would have a piece of majolica prominently placed in one of the sets?

From the Terrace is a big, expensive, Cinemascope movie with a first rate Hollywood cast including Patrick O’Neil, Barbara Eden and a drunken Myra Loy. It gives Joanne a chance to wear fabulous mid-century fashions complete with furs, turbans, pill box hats and, of course, platinum hair. It’s also a movie filled with glamorous backdrops, set in an era so far removed from the present it is now firmly an antique. It’s like traveling back in time or watching an episode of Mad Men.

For those who are not familiar with the storyline, Paul Newman is a young, ambitious man from a dysfunctional family who falls in love with, and marries, socialite Joanne Woodward. One thing leads to another and their relationship begins to sour.

Early romance

Cracks start to appear

Barely talking but Joanne at least has her tiara!

On a business trip to the coal country of Pennsylvania he is invited to the home of an associate for dinner. Well of course, this business associate has a lovely, unpretentious young daughter, played by Ina Balin who is as different from his wife as possible as well as a large rural home. It also has a majolica owl pitcher on the fireplace! It's love at first sight, not for Paul and the majolica but for Paul and Ina. They decide not to pursue their feelings because of Paul's marriage to Joanne… at least not at first.

Scene from On the Terrace with Paul Newman

The majolica shown is an odd choice for set dressing in this story. It's a figural English owl pitcher. I suppose the rustic quality of the pottery is intended to communicate that this home is in a rural part of Pennsylvania—a fictitious mining town called Mountain City—but it's really the only thing in the home, aside from a Staffordshire dog, that is the least bit "country-ish." The home is actually closer to a small mansion. (There are a lot of mansions in this movie.)

Owl pitcher designed by Shorter & Boulton but made by numerous potteries

As an aside, a better choice might have been a piece by the Etruscan Works because of the rural Pennsylvania setting, but I suppose we can't quibble. It's the only piece seen but it's always fun to spot familiar majolica in an unexpected place like this.

Oh, as a spoiler in case you are interested, the movie has a happy ending that doesn't involve Joanne but does involve the owl pitcher, at least by association.

Joanne ever stylish in emotional turmoil in a fabulous fur turban!

Paul has to choose between ambition and true love

To view the trailer for From the Terrace go here.