Is kitsch becoming chic?

For potters, barbotine is a kind of super glue: a clay paste liquefied with water, viscous like sticky mud, used to assemble handles, spouts and ornaments on pottery. But barbotine is also a revolutionary technique perfected in the mid-19th century by the Manufacture de Sèvres. By pouring a paste tinted with oxides into a mold, the result is richly detailed creations inspired by nature. Sugar bowls imitating lemons, plates adorned with asparagus, parrots as pitchers or fish-shaped dishes, also known as barbotines, became emblems of the period.

Barbotine is therefore a technique, a set of objects and even a style characterized by relief decoration, bright colors and naturalistic inspiration. Between 1890 and 1940, the main barbotine workshops and factories were located in Flandres (Desvres, Saint-Amand), Lorraine (Sarreguemines, Saint-Clément), Île-de-France (Creil, Choisy-le-Roi) and the south, from Fréjus to Monaco, via Vallauris and Menton.

While barbotine enjoyed its heyday in the 19th century, propelled by the Universal Exhibitions that took these colorful ceramics to the four corners of the globe, it slipped into the obsolete rococo trend by the end of the 1960s. Evoking a bygone era, plates, pitchers and other serving dishes found themselves buried in the meanders of our forebears' buffets, with the only ticket out being the rare family reunion.

Barbotine back in fashion

Today, this boldly patterned ceramic is back in fashion with decorating enthusiasts. Admittedly, the ballet of cutlery on a barbotine plate may seem perilous, but its undeniable charm lies in its ability to brighten up any table with its cheerfully mismatched and eclectic aesthetic. The flurry of Instagrammed tables attests to this phenomenon: chic, quirky grandma crockery is back!

For those who don't want to break their PEL to acquire this vintage crockery, there's still the option of e-brocante sites like Casa Viola Studio or Octopus. However, the star of the attic has become so trendy that even these platforms are seeing their prices soar. The lucky ones will still find bargains at Emmaüs or at garage sales they come across on the way to their vacation destination.

Faced with this surge in popularity and skyrocketing prices, copies and re-editions, often of Italian or Portuguese manufacture, are beginning to appear in major home furnishings chains. Brands such as Alinéa, Casa, Søstrene Grene, Zara Home and Monoprix are seizing on the phenomenon and reinventing this classic with a contemporary twist.

3 ways to find barbotine tableware

Bordallo Pinheiro

In the XIXᵉ century, Portuguese barbotine reached its apogee, transcending mere utilitarianism to become a true art form. Caldas da Rainha, with its rich clay soils, became the Mecca of this ceramic production. Among the most prestigious workshops is Fábrica Bordallo Pinheiro, founded in 1884 by Raphael Bordallo Pinheiro. This factory produces an incredible variety of slipware objects, from vases and figurines to azulejos and sculptures. Bordallo Pinheiro's playful, baroque aesthetic celebrates nature with a touch of humor, turning every meal into a feast for the eyes.

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Tory Burch

In the mid-60s, legendary ceramist Dodie Thayer made a splash with her "Lettuce Ware" pottery. Frank Sinatra, Jacqueline Kennedy and the Duchess of Windsor were all fans of these cabbage-leaf-shaped pieces! A real hit with the elite. In 2013, fashion designer Tory Burch convinced Dodie, then retired, to resurrect this iconic dinnerware. The result: a sleek, modern collection of the famous "Lettuce Ware", available in green, white and pink.

© Tory Burch

ByOn

Swedish brand ByOn specializes in tableware with playful design and Scandinavian charm. While the current collection focuses on fruit (lemon, tangerine and grape), the summer collection highlights seafood. There are plates and bowls partially devoured by orange crayfish, and pitchers in the shape of immaculate shells. On sale at NordicNest.

© Byon