Rating and value of ceramic mirrors by Mithé Espelt

If you own a mirror by or based on the work of ceramist Mithé Espelt and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will be happy to advise you.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.

Then, if you want to sell your work, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.

Artist's rating and value

Renowned for her colorful, expressive and lively work, Mithé Espelt was determined to make her creations accessible to all. Very popular, Mithé Espelt's mirrors quickly became a hit.

Today, the artist's value on the auction market continues to rise. Highly prized by collectors, Mithé Espelt's mirrors can fetch tens of thousands of euros at auction.

A good example is his Feu mirror, which sold for €54,000 in 2023.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Technical processes used by the artist

Mithé Espelt, while remaining deeply rooted in craftsmanship, has integrated cutting-edge scientific and technical processes into the creation of her works, giving each piece remarkable quality and precision.

The ceramic work she undertakes is based on a perfect mastery of materials, particularly glazed earthenware, and a methodical approach to firing.

Espelt experiments with glaze formulations, playing with temperatures and chemical compositions to achieve specific gloss or matte effects, enriching his pieces with a unique texture.

This technical research has enabled the artist to achieve extremely fine finishes, where light subtly diffuses through the enamel, creating a play of reflections of great depth.

Another particularly interesting process is the use of felt, a material that Mithé Espelt carefully applies to the backgrounds of some of her creations, notably her mirrors.

This choice, both aesthetic and practical, not only protects the surface behind the work, but also adds a tactile dimension to the piece. The exquisitely soft felt becomes a discreet signature that lends the object a feeling of comfort and luxury.

The way in which it is integrated into his works testifies to a desire to blend the science of materials with the search for a refined aesthetic, creating a perfect harmony between texture and form, the useful and the beautiful.

Mithé Espelt: bringing ceramics back to life

Mithé Espelt's career spans several decades, during which time she has established her uniqueness in the field of ceramics and decorative art. Right from the start, she distinguished herself by her constant quest for refinement, seeking to combine poetic form with impeccable technique.

Trained at leading ceramics schools, she began creating utilitarian and decorative objects that quickly became collector's items prized by connoisseurs.

Her career has unfolded through collaborations with prestigious houses, where she takes part in the development of unique collections, combining modernity and tradition.

Over the years, Espelt has developed his own distinctive aesthetic, in which each work seems an invitation to silent contemplation.

Throughout her career, she has made a name for herself with her exacting standards and expertise, experimenting with glazes and textures to achieve subtle, luminous effects.

His creations, whether mirrors, vases or boxes, testify to a perfect mastery of materials and a relentless quest for perfection in the harmony of form.

The artist is constantly pushing the boundaries of ceramics, integrating cutting-edge techniques while retaining the essence of traditional craftsmanship.

Mithé Espelt is one of the 20th century's leading figures in the decorative arts, helping to redefine the place of ceramics in contemporary art, where the object also becomes a work of art.

Mithé Espelt's work in 20th-century ceramics

Mithé Espelt's work is part of the 20th century revival of ceramics, an era marked by the fusion of art, design and craft.

She shares this quest for elegance and modernity with artists such as Georges Jouve, Roger Capron and Line Vautrinwho, each in their own way, have redefined the codes of contemporary ceramics.

Like Georges Jouve, Espelt is interested in the relationship between form and material, creating pieces whose textures and colors seem to merge in a subtle balance between abstraction and functionality.

Like Roger Capron, she emphasizes the sculptural aspect of ceramics, where each object, while remaining utilitarian, becomes a work of art in its own right, of great visual modernity.

In her approach, Espelt also shares with Line Vautrin the ability to transform traditional materials into objects of new beauty, playing on the effects of light and texture, while infusing each creation with a discreet poetry.

The formal simplicity of his pieces, often inspired by nature and the plant world, is close to the approach of Vautrin, who, through his jewelry and decorative objects, explored a refined aesthetic rich in meaning.

Through these influences and his own research, Mithé Espelt established himself as a key figure in the evolution of twentieth-century ceramics, contributing to the expansion of ceramics beyond its utilitarian function, and bringing it closer to an aesthetic where art and everyday life come together harmoniously.

Focus on The Three-Fish Vase, Mithé Espelt

Mithé Espelt's Le Vase à trois poissons, created in the 1960s, embodies a perfect fusion of ceramic work and sculptural expression.

This seemingly simple vase reveals an unexpected depth, thanks to the artist's mastery of shapes and materials.

Its sleek, slightly curved silhouette evokes both the fluidity of water and the elegance of natural forms.

Three fish, in relief, adorn the vase, positioned so as to appear to be in motion, as if caught in a game of back-and-forth, suspended in the space of the object. 

Espelt uses earthenware as its main support, allowing the surface to retain a certain roughness that contrasts with the smooth shapes of the fish.

The glaze applied to the flat parts of the vase, in soft shades of blue and white, imitates the reflections of water, while the fish, treated with a more pronounced relief, are left in a more neutral, almost earthy hue, emphasizing their materiality and presence.

This contrasting use of textures and colors, while remaining sober and elegant, shows the artist's attention to creating an interaction between form and material, décor and structure.

The fish are depicted with great simplicity and are modeled with great economy of means. Espelt's work is inspired by nature, but not realistically depicted.

These fish, with their flowing lines and elongated forms, are more metaphors for aquatic life than faithful reproductions. The choice of fish as a motif evokes the natural world, while at the same time evoking the invisible, movement and life that escape the eye.

This almost abstract treatment of natural elements is characteristic of the artist's approach, who doesn't hesitate to reduce his subjects to the essentials while giving them a poetic charge.

Looking at the vase from a more symbolic angle, we can see in the representation of the fish an allusion to the idea of flow, of time passing, of the perpetual movement of life.

Ceramics, a material both solid and fragile, embodies this duality between stability and ephemerality, a theme that underpins all Mithé Espelt's work.

This vase thus becomes an object that invites us to reflect on the nature of life itself, on how art and craft can translate profound concepts while remaining rooted in the beauty of everyday life.

The Vase à trois poissons fits perfectly into the world of modern ceramics of its time, alongside artists such as Roger Capron and Georges Jouve, who, while exploring material and form, succeeded in creating pieces of great symbolic richness.

Espelt's formal simplicity and quest for harmony set him apart from his contemporaries, turning each object into a subtle reflection on nature, art and life.

In this way, the Three-Fish Vase is not just a decorative work, but a true testimony to the artist's commitment to the quest for meaning through everyday objects.

Mithé Espelt's imprint on his period

Mithé Espelt has left a significant mark on 20th-century art history, and his original ceramic objects are highly prized, as are those of Line Vautrin and Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat. His works continue to enjoy great success at auction.

His signature

Mithé Espelt's works are unsigned, and often recognizable by the felt that the artist affixes to the back of her pieces.

Appraising your property

If you own one of Mithé Espelt's works, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your work.

If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each item.