Anthropomorphic Stoneware Jug by Julie Desert Armanville - 6¾"

Hand-crafted in glazed stoneware, this expressive jug takes the form of a rounded female head with softly modeled features and a contemplative gaze. The face is finished in a creamy off-white glaze with delicate firing speckles, while the coiffure is rendered in relief, its textured locks wrapping around the head to form both the rim and a sculptural handle. The contrast between the smooth, luminous face and the darker, intricately worked hair gives the piece a striking presence. Signed JDA to the underside. Minor irregularities and natural glaze variations inherent to the handmade process. Contemporary ceramicist Julie Désert Armanville is rooted in the artistic tradition of Vallauris pottery, where postwar experimentation gave rise to a distinctive language of expressive figuration. Having worked in Roger Capron’s atelier from 1972 to 1982, she developed a style characterized by tactile surfaces, simplified forms, and a deep appreciation for the expressive qualities of clay. This piece draws on the long Mediterranean tradition of anthropomorphic vessels, reinterpreted through the playful spirit of Vallauris. 

Equally compelling as a vase, utensil holder, or sculptural object, the piece lends warmth and personality to an interior. Its restrained palette and tactile surfaces complement contemporary, rustic, and Mediterranean-inspired settings alike. While jug-shaped in form, the heavily textured glazed interior makes it better suited to decorative use than everyday pouring, allowing its sculptural qualities to take center stage.

Explore our collection of Julie Desert Armanville ceramics.