François Raty, the value of these surprising ceramics

Vallauris, an essential part of French heritage

Vallauris ceramics, a true intangible cultural heritage of France, has a history that dates back to the Old Regime. It is from the seventeenth century that the small village of potters became famous in the art of earthenware. The first production of the center is rather popular and utilitarian, with pieces intended for meals and daily use. At the end of the 19th century, the development of the railroads made it easier to reach the south of France. The region - with its singing colors and often ideal weather - attracted artists from all over France. It was at this time that families of art ceramists settled in Vallauris: the Massier and Gerbino families made the city's first creations fashionable. Over time, the center obtains the consecration to become between 1930 and 1950 the first center of French fire art.

Among the famous artists who have trodden the cobblestones of the perched village, we can mention for example Roger Capron, but history will especially remember the attempts of Pablo Picasso with the Madoura workshop. In Vallauris, in the 1950s, the Spanish artist added a string to his bow by creating amusing ceramic sculptures and shapes, whose values now reach records at auction.

The golden age of ceramics, by François Raty

François Raty, a ceramist little known to neophytes but considered a great personality of the art of fire in the 20th century.

Initially trained as a painter and draftsman, the artist began training as a potter in the 1950s. He invented his own decorative repertoire: inspired by Pablo Picasso and the surrealist painters, François Raty created zoomorphic ceramics resembling animal sculptures. Birds, monkeys, bulls and gorillas constitute the iconographic repertoire of the artist who assimilates to the mythological totems of the Nordic or Oceanic peoples. Magical pieces by the great ceramist François Raty can fetch several tens of thousands of euros at public auctions.

The value of this vase by François Raty

For the vase of our Calaisian, it would be necessary to count a more modest estimate: between 300 and 500 euros. Unfortunately, not everything that bears the name Vallauris is gold: the city has experienced a decline in its production in the 1970s with a production more and more industrialized. Like the "lava" vases which sell for a few dozen euros.

Nevertheless, keep your eyes open! A beautiful signature from Vallauris can be worth its weight in gold... Having your François Raty ceramic piece appraised by Auctie's auctioneers and experts can be particularly interesting for those who wish to sell the piece at auction. Auctioneers are experts in the valuation of fine art and collectibles, with a deep understanding of the art market and pricing trends.

Have your ceramics appraised by an auctioneer

By having your François Raty ceramic piece appraised by an auctioneer, you can get an accurate and unbiased estimate of its current market value, which takes into account factors such as the piece's condition, rarity and history. This can help you set an appropriate reserve price for the auction and reach a wider audience of potential collectors. In short, having your Francois Raty ceramic appraised by an auctioneer can help you maximize the value of the piece and sell it efficiently and profitably.