Rating and value of works, ceramics and mirrors by Mithé Espelt

If you own a work by or based on 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

Known for her joyful, poetic and colorful universe, Mithé Espelt was determined to make her creations accessible to all. Very popular, Mithé Espelt's works quickly became a great success.

Today, the artist's standing on the auction market continues to grow, with prices for his works ranging from €220 to €54,000 - a considerable range, but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to the artist's work.

Highly prized by collectors, Mithé Espelt's works can fetch tens of thousands of euros at auction. A case in point is his mirror Feu, which sold for €54,000 in 2023. 

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Style and techniques of Mithé Espelt creations

Ceramic artist Mithé Espelt's unique, refined style is the epitome of elegance and delicacy in French decorative ceramics.

His creations, mainly based on everyday objects transformed into veritable works of art, reflect a singular and profoundly modern aesthetic vision. 

His work reveals a perfect mastery of glazed earthenware techniques, skilfully blending precision and creativity to design pieces with often pure forms, imbued with a subtle balance between the utilitarian and the ornamental.

Through fluid contours and harmonious compositions, she manages to integrate artistic elements with practical objects, making each one both functional and poetic. 

She favors meticulous decorations, enhanced by shimmering enamels with perfect finishes that capture the light and accentuate the finesse of the reliefs.

These interplay of materials, oscillating between the brilliance of gilding, sometimes applied with gold leaf, and the softness of matte surfaces, reflect a constant quest for harmony and innovation.

The diversity of textures invites the viewer to a tactile and visual exploration, where every detail reveals meticulous care and a keen sense of composition. 

Inspired by nature and floral motifs, Mithé Espelt infuses her creations with a timeless charm, while anchoring her work in a modernist aesthetic.

His pieces are distinguished by stylized motifs that recall the influence of Art Deco and post-war decorative trends, where simplicity of line is combined with vibrant visual richness.

Each object reflects a desire to transcend the everyday, offering the observer an experience that is both aesthetic and emotional.

The life of Mithé Espelt

Mithé Espelt, born in 1923 in the south of France, grew up in an environment bathed in Mediterranean light, which nourished her taste for contrasts and luminous textures.

From an early age, she had a passion for the arts, and went on to study at the Beaux-Arts in Montpellier, where she developed a solid technical training and a unique sensitivity to the decorative arts.

Eager to discover new things, she continued her apprenticeship in Paris, a bubbling center of artistic innovation, where she was exposed to modernist currents and Art Deco influences, which left a lasting imprint on her work. 

Back in her native region, Mithé Espelt set up her studio in Lunel, a place both close to nature and imbued with serenity, which was to become the setting for her creative explorations.

Refusing to conform to the expectations of the traditional art market, she has chosen a singular path, marked by a constant search for authenticity and intimacy in her work.

This artistic independence translates into pieces that are often unsigned, a deliberate approach that reflects his desire to let his creations speak for themselves, with no intermediary or hierarchy between artist and object. 

During the 1950s and 1960s, his work enjoyed discreet but significant success, attracting the attention of customers sensitive to his refined world and meticulous finishes.

In particular, it collaborates with renowned designers, while maintaining an artisanal approach that enables it to prioritize quality over quantity.

His creations, mainly mirrors and decorative boxes in glazed earthenware, are distinguished by their delicacy and timelessness, becoming prized objects for discerning customers. 

To the end of her life, Mithé Espelt remained faithful to her artistic commitment, working with passion and discretion. Long unknown to the general public, his works are now being rediscovered, celebrating his essential role in the revival of French decorative ceramics in the 20th century.

This renewed interest highlights the elegance and originality of his style, establishing Mithé Espelt as a key figure in the world of arts and crafts.

Mithé Espelt and 20th century ceramists

Mithé Espelt is part of a generation of ceramic artists who, like Line Vautrin, Georges Jouve or Roger Capronredefined the decorative arts in the 20th century, bringing a touch of modernity and elegance to everyday objects.

All share a remarkable ability to sublimate traditional materials while integrating them into a resolutely contemporary aesthetic. 

Mithé Espelt's creations have an obvious affinity with those of Line Vautrin, particularly in the art of decorative mirrors.

Both transform this functional object into a work of art in its own right, where ornamental detail and meticulous treatment of materials, whether glazed earthenware or talosel, create refined, unique pieces.

Their approach is characterized by a search for balance between utility and visual poetry, making each creation captivating. 

With Georges Jouve, Espelt shares a particular sensitivity to form and light. Both explore refined contours and impeccable finishes, using enamels to magnify the surfaces of their works.

Where Jouve focuses on sculptural pieces with organic lines, Espelt applies this same attention to more intimate objects, such as his boxes and mirrors, while retaining a similar sophistication in textures and reflections. 

Roger Capron joins Mithé Espelt in revisiting utilitarian objects with a modernist aesthetic. Both incorporate stylized decorative motifs and favor luminous, harmonious palettes.

Capron and Espelt also share a demanding approach to craftsmanship, where each piece reflects a constant concern for quality and innovation. 

Through these parallels, Mithé Espelt establishes herself as an essential figure in the decorative arts of her time, anchored in a collective dynamic while cultivating a deeply personal style.

The artist's works and style

The Miroir aux trois fleurs, designed by Mithé Espelt in the 1950s, perfectly embodies understated elegance and the culmination of a meticulous quest for beauty in everyday objects.

This glazed earthenware mirror features a frame adorned with three stylized flowers, which appear to be in full bloom around the central mirror.

The finesse of the contours, the delicate relief of the petals and the harmony of the colors - a subtle blend of blue, green and gold - give the work a visual depth that captures the light with a rare subtlety.

Espelt's craftsmanship transforms a utilitarian object into a true work of art. The seemingly simple floral motifs are richly processed, with each petal carefully shaped and glazed.

The interplay between the matte and shiny areas of the decor allows the eye to gradually discover the texture of the object, accentuating the poetry of the frame while highlighting the mirror itself.

The reflections created by the glaze vary according to the angle, giving the work a changing, almost living dimension, in constant dialogue with the ambient light.

In this Miroir aux trois fleurs, the artist doesn't just decorate, she breathes soul into the object. The apparent simplicity of the design conceals a complexity of details, testimony to a perfect mastery of materials and enamels.

With a few precise gestures, Espelt transforms ceramics into an everyday art form, creating a balance between function and aesthetics, between modernity and tradition.

This mirror is a perfect example of his style: purely visual poetry that makes the ordinary precious, and an invitation to rediscover the beauty of the simplest objects.

His signature

Mithé Espelt's works are not signed. It is important to note that for most of her works, the artist uses a layer of felt on the back or inside the boxes.

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 estimate the market value of your Mithé Espelt 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.