Expressive Stoneware Woman Teapot in Red and Cream w/ Decorative Collar by Julie Desert Armanville - 13¾"

A large sculptural teapot in glazed stoneware, handbuilt as a standing female figure in an expressive pose. The broad, arched reservoir body is brushed with terracotta-red slip in loose, painterly strokes, giving the surface a dynamic, textural quality. A soft cream glaze defines the figure’s head, arms, and elaborate pierced ruffled collar, worked in relief to striking decorative effect. One arm is extended upward to serve as the spout, while the other rests firmly on the hip, creating the handle, an exaggerated pose that heightens the theatrical silhouette. The head is modeled with simplified but expressive features, framed by painted russet hair swept back in a stylized knot. The proportions are deliberately bold, with the monumental curve of the body contrasting the smaller, more detailed head and collar, lending the piece both humor and presence. Stamped JDA to the underside for Julie Desert Armanville.

This work reflects the Vallauris tradition of playful, sculptural utilitarian forms that flourished in the postwar era, when artists blurred the line between object and figure. Julie Desert Armanville, who played a key role at Roger Capron’s atelier between 1972 and 1982, brought a lyrical sensibility to stoneware, uniting function and sculpture with assured savoir-faire.

Display it as a striking focal point on a kitchen island, dining console, or mantel, where its sculptural presence invites conversation. The warm terracotta and cream palette pairs beautifully with wood, linen, and stone, while its playful silhouette complements both rustic Provençal interiors and modern minimalist spaces.