Head-Form Sculptural Petite Footed Bowl in Glazed Stoneware by Julie Desert d’Armanville - 5"

A sculptural glazed stoneware bowl in the form of a stylized head, the rounded vessel rising from a cylindrical foot, with applied tab ears and a boldly modeled nose and lips in relief. The glaze is a warm sandy terracotta with fine speckling and a gentle sheen that accentuates the handbuilt planes and tactile surfaces. Darker glaze at the back suggests stylized hair, adding depth and character to the form. Stamped JDA to the underside for Julie Desert Armanville.

Armanville’s ceramics reflect the Vallauris postwar tradition of playful modernist figuration, a movement energized by Picasso’s presence in the town and championed by Roger Capron. Having trained and worked in Roger Capron’s atelier between 1972 and 1982, she developed a style that combines reductive modeling with expressive surfaces, celebrating robust grès bodies and earthy Mediterranean glazes. The head motif, distilled into geometric essentials, embodies both whimsical personality and disciplined craftsmanship.

This charismatic piece can be showcased as a sculptural accent on a console or kitchen island. Its versatile form allows it to function as a cachepot for a small plant, a practical catchall in an entryway, a striking centerpiece filled with dried botanicals or fresh fruit. Its earthy terracotta tones and playful character lend warmth, texture, and individuality to interiors ranging from rustic to modern.