MITHÉ ESPELT

      FOR SALE IN OUR COLLECTION

Mithé Espelt (1923–2020)
French Ceramist

Mithé Espelt was a prominent French ceramist renowned for her mid-20th-century decorative ceramics. Born in Lunel, Camargue, she was immersed in an artistic environment from a young age, influenced by her grandfather Edmond Baissat, a sculptor and friend of Frédéric Mistral. Espelt studied sculpture and drawing at the Beaux-Arts School in Montpellier and later trained at the Fontcarrade School of Ceramics under Émilie Decanis.

In Paris, she worked with Nathalie Pol at the Atelier Lydia Chartier, producing ceramic buttons for haute couture. Returning to Lunel in 1946, she established her own ceramics workshop, creating jewelry, mirrors, and decorative objects. Her work, often unmarked, features motifs of birds and flowers in vibrant colors, framed with gilded accents. Espelt's pieces gained popularity along the French Riviera and attracted a discerning clientele, including Louise de Vilmorin.

Espelt's legacy is celebrated for its joyful and poetic designs, characterized by modernity and femininity. Her work continues to be sought after by collectors and is featured in prominent galleries and auctions.