René Buthaud: Art Deco Ceramist (1886-1986)

A prominent figure in the decorative arts of the interwar period, René Buthaud (1886-1986) became interested in ceramics from the end of his studies at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts de Paris and at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, before being mobilized. Figurative, geometric, or abstract, his vases met with great success from the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs of 1920 where he exhibited alongside his friends Jean Dunand and Alfred Janniot. His work was distributed by the Rouard gallery from 1928, and he took part in most of the salons as well as the major events of the time: the International Exhibition of Decorative Arts of 1925, the International Colonial Exhibition of 1931 and the Exhibition of Arts and Techniques of 1937.

Technical director of the Sainte-Radegonde artistic earthenware factory for Primavera from 1923 to 1926, he is particularly known and appreciated by the public for his great mastery of craquelé, which he introduced to France. He is also the author of around thirty remarkable glass paintings which demonstrate his dexterity with other materials. Winner of the Florence Blumenthal Prize in 1920, he also enjoyed real success across the Atlantic, notably thanks to his vases signed as "J. Doris". His work – more than a thousand pieces – now appears in numerous private or public collections, including the Madd-Bordeaux, in his adopted city, the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

AUTHORS

Emmanuel Bréon is chief heritage curator at the French Monuments Museum / City of Architecture & Heritage. He directed the Musée des Années 30, Boulogne-Billancourt, and the Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris. He has curated numerous exhibitions including "1925, When Art Deco Seduced the World" at the Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine and "Art Deco-France North America". He is the author of around a hundred works including Alfred Janniot. Monumental (Editions Norma, 2022).

France Cruège de Forceville is an expert in 20th-century decorative arts, and a specialist in Pierre Cruège, Louis Leygue and René Buthaud, of whom she is the legatee.

Contributions from Amélie Marcilhac, Victorien Georges, Hubert Cavaniol, Etienne Tornier, Bénédicte Mayer.

INFORMATION

Format: 230 x 305 mm
Number of pages: 176
Number of illustrations: approximately 200
Hardcover
Text in French only

ISBN: 9782376660781