French Gilt + Orange Ceramic Tray by Georges Pelletier, 1970s

This French gilt and orange ceramic tray from the 1970s, designed by Georges Pelletier in the 1970s, embodies a quiet interplay between warmth, materiality, and light.

The form is compact and architectural, a square softened by gentle curvature and depth. Raised edges create a contained field, guiding the eye inward and giving the piece a sense of focus and calm structure.

At the center, a circular motif anchors the composition. The glaze shifts through amber, ochre, and burnt orange, deepening into a red core. These tones move fluidly across the surface, while small, irregular accents add texture and a sense of organic rhythm.

Beyond the center, the orange field softens into a matte wash. A gilt border frames the composition, catching light with a subdued, uneven glow that balances the warmth of the ceramic without overpowering it.
The interplay between matte glaze and reflective gold creates a subtle dynamism. Placed within a space, the tray holds its presence quietly. It does not demand attention, but rewards it, offering a surface that shifts with light and invites a closer look.

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.