ANDRE FAU - MARCEL GUILLARD
FOR SALE IN OUR COLLECTION
SOLD
In their work of publishers, they make use of prominent artists such as Jan and Joel Martel, Ernesto Do Canto da Maya, Willy-George Wuilleumier ... The themes that evoke the animal world, the field of art or religious or mythological subjects, are always treated with joy and simplicity. The form, with simplified lines, outweighs the decor, which is often limited to white and gray tones. Fau & Guillard want beautiful sites for their objects, either their beautiful "boutique" at the Salon d'Automne of 1924 (Le Même, architect) or store in Paris (René Herbst, architect). In 1925, at the Exhibition of Decorative Arts, the company Fau & Guillard, who has an independent stand, is awarded with an honorary diploma, and many of its employees are rewarded.
Fau and Guillard split in 1926. Marcel Guillard then settled in Asnieres. Andre Fau continues in the same vein as before, his activity at Buzenval street. It publishes works by Maurice Guiraud-Riviere, Emile Monier and many other artists. He gained a lot of confidence, not afraid to say, "... a ceramicist is a chemist who needs to know where it goes and expect no surprise of baking"! Very active, he presents his productions at SAD, Galliera, Exposition Coloniale Expo Colonial Internationale in 1931 ... In the late 20s, he also designed several automobile radiator caps distributed under the brand "Fauthor." He abandoned ceramics in the 50s and dedicated to painting.
The mention of the name of Fau and Guillard drags with it the scent of the Roaring Twenties. It is once again the story of two friends with artistic temperaments. Andre Fau (Paris, 1896- ?, after 1953) was first studied painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris before trying to poetry and variety. By an ad that he published in 1920 in "l'Art Vivant", we know that at that time he already was ceramist and decorator. His studio is located 18, rue de Buzenval in Boulogne, he has a representative at Paris, rue de Paradis and has strong views : all in ceramic art must find a rational employment. The following year, he joined forces with Marcel Félix Guillard (Paris, 1896- ?, after 1963) who himself has begun opting for tapestry at the Boulle school before drawing wallpaper models. He also worked in the workshop of André Methey only a month but maybe it was not enough to catch the ceramic virus.
Fau and Guillard aim to balance quality with mass production to form the taste of the largest number. In the same time, they want to create a line offering unique pieces. Their material is a stonewarelike earthenware, made by mixing three types of earth that they cover of enamel, cracked or not. In their workshop that employs a dozen workers, they install a
high-fired oven and a test furnace. They learn self-educated but they learn quickly: at the Salon d'Automne of 1923, they manage to exhibit a wall fountain as well as bottles, vases, bowls and statuettes from ceramic works by sculptors. During the five year period of their association, Fau and Guillard also make dishes, bookends, ashtrays, ... that they design themselves or not.
