The annual Parcours de la Céramique et les Arts du Feu is a gallery-based ensemble of ceramics selling exhibitions put on by specialist dealers on the Left Bank. It has been a feature of the Paris rentrée, or return to work, for several years.
This year, the 14th edition which runs from September 21-25, will feature 13 exhibitors: JM Béalu & Fils; Maxime Charron Royal Provenance; Dragesco-Cramoisan; Bertrand de Lavergne; Lefebvre & Fils; Camille Leprince; Valerie Lévesque; Christophe Perles; Pierre-Richard Royer SA Armétal; Galerie Théorème-Vincent l’Herrou; Galerie Tiago; Galerie Vauclair and Voltaire Antiquités-Michel Vandermeersch. Most are resident galleries based around the Carré Rive Gauche area.
Ongoing restrictions from Covid-19 means that there are no foreign guest exhibitors this year but other elements of the Parcours, including a lecture series and a loan presentation of ceramics from a specific French museum, continue as usual.
The works on show encompass Oriental and Occidental pieces from Chinese export porcelain and Middle Eastern ceramics to Italian Renaissance maiolica, classic porcelain from Sèvres and other French factories plus a range of 19th century works through to contemporary ceramics.
The museum focus for this year is the Musée Condé at the Château de Chantilly. It is loaning a selection of pieces from its collection which will be on display in the participating galleries.
The lecture series* is held at the Bistrot de Paris on the rue de Lille and will include talks on 18th century trompe l’oeil ceramics; Michel Victor Acier, a French sculptor at the Meissen factory, and floral decoration and its graphic sources in Alcora faience. Further information see the website.
Béalu & Fils – Iznik tiles
JM Béalu & Fils, which has a gallery on the rue du Bac, is presenting a selection of Iznik tiles from two collections during the Parcours.
They will include a 10in (25.5cm) square tile dating from c.1575, pictured above, decorated with a cartouche featuring polychrome rosettes on a green ground. Similar examples can be seen in harem of the Topkapi and the upper galleries of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul.
The tile, which has some restored breaks to one side, has a provenance to a Belgian collection and is priced at €7500.
*Entry to the lecture series costs €40 for the series or €15 per day. Booking obligatory in advance from bealu@wanadoo.fr or +33 (0) 1 45 48 46 53.
