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About the Item
Mid-century ceramic wall mirror with enamel glaze, flower motif and stylised birds by Mith Espelt (circa 1960s). A whimsically decorated wall mirror with two shades of pink in the flowers and birds, all with a backdrop of the ocean blue frame. This piece is in good overall condition with loads of vintage character and charm. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. There is a felt backing and hanging ring on the rear of the piece. Without a doubt it is a cheerful and uplifting work sure to provoke smiles and conversation. Upon request, a video may be provided.
About the artist: Mith Espelt (1923-2020) was a French ceramic artist based in the Camargue region at the gates of Provence. She wasrenowned for her production of ceramic mirrors of remarkable originalitybutoften mistakenly confused with those of Franois Lembo.Her grandfather was a close friend of Frderic Mistral (Nobel Prize in literature, 1904), and for whom the famous wind is named. Mistral introduced Espelt into the upper echelons of both the artistic and intellectual world. She rubbed shoulders with Jean Hugo, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Christian Brard and many others. After finishing her studies, she moved to Paris and produced jewellery and ceramic buttons for Line Vautrin. Back in the Camargue, shestarteda pottery workshop whose clients included Louise de Vilmorin and Jaime Sabarts. She welcomed friends in her house in Ste including Franois Desnoyer (artist friend of Fernand Lger), Jean Hugo and Pablo Picasso.
Her jewellery was spotted in 1948 by the founder of the Souleiado brand and for nearly 40 years she designed pieces for that company. Mith also exhibited at La Roue gallery in Vallauris in the company of the greatest ceramicists of the time. However, at the beginning of the 1950s, she stopped signing her pieces and devoted herself to the creation of small, everyday objects for women: mirrors, jewellery boxes and trays. Her workhaslong been attributed to Franois Lembo (including by this gallery), due to the misinformation widely spread via the Internet. Finally her work and the extraordinary story of her life have been revealed in Antoine Candau’s book, “Mith Espelt, the Discreet Luxury of Every Day”. A retrospective of her workwas held in Autumn, 2020 in Paris.
Dimensions:
H 29.5 cm / 11.6″
W 25.5 cm / 10″
D 1 cm / 0.4″Creator: Mith Espelt (Artist)Dimensions: Height: 11.62 in (29.5 cm)Width: 10.04 in (25.5 cm)Depth: 0.4 in (1 cm)Materials and Techniques: Ceramic,MirrorPlace of Origin: FrancePeriod: 1960-1969Date of Manufacture: circa 1960sCondition: GoodSeller Location: London, GBReference Number: Seller: 23801stDibs: LU2811342601622Shop All Mith Espelt
Mith Espelt
Marie-Thrse Espelt, known better as Mith Espelt, was a dominant force in mid-20th-century ceramics in France. Mith is remembered for her modern ceramic wall mirrors, gilded and enameled ashtrays and other ornate objects and boxes,often featuring birds and lively colors. She preferred not to sign her pieces and, as a consequence, much of her work has been misattributed, including to French ceramist Franois Lembo.
Mith grew up in the Camargue region of France. Her fathers extensive network included 1904 Nobel Prize winner Frdric Mistral and Parisian painter and decorator Jean Hugo. Miths early introduction to a community of artists inspired her to study sculpture and drawing at the Beaux-Arts School in Montpellier in 1939.
Miths early work caught the attention of French ceramist Emilie Decanis and jewelry distributor Charles Dmery. Mith set up a ceramics workshop in the Htel de Bernis in Lunel, where she quickly garnered a reputation for her ceramic work and accessories, including mirrors, jewelry boxes and buttons. Dmery founded the Souleiado boutique, which began distributing Miths work, thus attracting a worldwide audience.
French author Antoine Candau wrote a retrospective book on Miths career titled Mith Espelt, the Discreet Luxury of the Every Day, which contributed to bringing her legacy to the forefront while shedding light on her anonymity. While Mith was respected within her inner circle, the general public is only now beginning to understand the immense talent behind her over five-decade-long career.
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