French Gilt + Green Ceramic Vase by Georges Pelletier, 1970s

A large French ceramic vase by Georges Pelletier from the 1970s brings surface and form into a quiet dialogue shaped by glaze and light. Its presence is subtle yet assured.

The silhouette is full and balanced, with a gently swelling body that narrows at the base and opens at the lip. It feels grounded without heaviness, its proportions carefully composed to hold space with ease.

The surface defines the piece. Bands of green glaze move across the form in layered tones, from soft celadon to deeper, moss-like hues, creating a sense of depth. Between them, horizontal gilt accents catch and reflect light with a softened brilliance, their irregular application revealing the hand behind the work.

This interplay creates a quiet rhythm. The matte green grounds the vase, while the gilt introduces warmth and luminosity. As light shifts, so too does the surface, becoming gently dynamic.

Rooted in the French ceramic tradition, the vase reflects Pelletier’s interest in the balance between material and finish. More than a container, it becomes a study in tone, reflection, and proportion, holding its presence with calm, understated authority.

Georges Pelletier, born in 1938 in Brussels, is a renowned ceramist based in Cannes, France. He began his ceramic journey in 1953 at the Pioulier School in Vence, later studying at the Académie Charpentier and the École des Arts et Métiers in Paris, and honing his skills at the Poteries d’Accolay. Influenced by the vibrant Parisian art scene, he frequently visited Fernand Léger’s studio.

In the early 1960s, Pelletier opened his first ceramic studio in Paris, where his distinctive work caught the attention of Maison Bobois, sparking a successful collaboration from 1961 to 1973. Since then, he has worked in Cannes, creating his signature solar motif ceramics alongside his son.