Rectangular dish with rounded corners in glazed ceramic, made by Marie-Henriette Bataille for the Atelier de Dour , ca 1960-1970.
The piece features a particularly graphic decoration of a stylized bird rendered in bas-relief , composed of modeled elements applied to the surface. The plumage, legs, and head are deliberately simplified and punctuated by a play of incised motifs and small raised dots, giving the whole a character that is both naive and highly decorative.
The glazed background, in shades of celadon and nuanced green-grey , has a vibrant and slightly irregular texture that contrasts with the dark brown of the central motif. The composition is characteristic of the Dour ceramics style: simple forms, a clear decoration inspired by wildlife, and perfect integration of the motif with the form of the object.
This approach is part of the broader European revival of artistic ceramics following the war , paralleling in particular the experiments carried out in Vallauris, France. This free and figurative spirit can be compared to certain works by Roger Capron, Robert Picault, or Jacques Blin , even though Dour ceramics retain a very specific Belgian identity, more directly linked to mural art and the desire for art that is accessible and integrated into everyday life.
Dimensions: 33 × 23 × H. 3.5 cm .
- Artist / Designer:Marie-Henriette Bataille.
- Signature / Monogram:Signed.
- Issuer / Manufacturer:Céramique de Dour.
- Period:20th Century / Mid Century / 1940 - 1980.
- Country of Origin:Belgium.
- Dimensions (H x W x D):3,5 x 33 x 23 cm.
- Weight:2 Kg.
- Number of components:1.
- Condition:Excellent.
- Material:Ceramic.
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Price:370 €
Marie-Henriette Bataille
Marie-Henriette Bataille (1931-2014) studied decorative arts in Antwerp before joining the ceramics workshop in Dour in 1952, where she officially became an artist of the workshop in 1954. She worked there alongside Roger Somville, Simone Tits, Thérèse Bataille, Claire Lambert and Paul Timper .
The workshop championed a collective approach to creation, combining simple forms, scenes of daily life, and flora and fauna, with a strong desire to unite decoration with the form of the object. Marie-Henriette Bataille also participated in several of the workshop's architectural and monumental projects. Her work gained international recognition when she won a gold medal at the Faenza International Ceramics Competition in 1970 .