Characterful Figural Woman Teapot by Julie Desert Armanville - 11½"

A large sculptural teapot in glazed stoneware, modeled as a stylized female figure with one arm raised to form the spout and the other set at the hip as a practical grip. The rounded torso provides the body of the vessel, while the removable lid follows the neckline and is topped with a finely modeled head. The face is gently expressive, framed by incised hair, and the broad collar is enriched with a diamond-patterned impressed motif that extends across the green-washed body. The glaze, a soft celadon green over warm buff clay, has subtle variation that highlights the relief pattern, recalling the texture of woven textile. Stamped JDA to the underside for Julie Desert Armanville.

Figural teapots have long allowed potters to merge function with humor, and in postwar France Vallauris became a hub for such inventive forms. Julie Desert Armanville, who worked at the Roger Capron atelier from 1972 to 1982, is celebrated for her ability to combine playful figuration with assured craftsmanship. This piece embodies that lineage: the sturdy grès construction, impressed geometric decoration, and sculptural silhouette reflect both folk inspiration and the witty modernism cultivated in Capron’s circle.

Though functional, its generous weight and commanding presence make it most suitable as a decorative object. Place it on open kitchen shelving, a dining room console, or a mantel where its bold silhouette and expressive features can be admired. The soft green and buff palette harmonizes with natural wood, linen, and stone, and it pairs beautifully with other Vallauris ceramics or mid-century studio pottery.