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Picault’s studio was in the town of Vallauris on the Côte d’Azur and the French ceramist was a close friend and next door neighbour of Pablo Picasso, who was based in Vallauris from 1948-53.
Bois d’Arcy-based Chapeau collects ceramics from La Borne, an art pottery collective in a hamlet near Bourges, which has been a centre of pottery makers since the 15th century.
He particularly admires the work of La Borne’s post-war ceramists Elisabeth Joulia and Jean and Jacqueline Lerat, saying “ these pieces may seem austere but they turn out to be creations of great strength and have a very beautiful presence in my house”.