Dating from the 1950s / 60s, this gorgeous vase is signed Gerbino, Vallauris. The marbleized mosaic effect is the creation of John Gerbino (1876-1966) and is very original. This will complement both modern and traditional interiors and would make a lovely gift.
Extract from Wikipedia (translated from French)
Jean Gerbino is a French master ceramist born on March 27 , 1876 in Santo Stefano di Camastra in the province of Messina in Sicily and died on December 6 , 1966. His work is part of the Vallauris pottery appellation , which includes the ceramic production of workshops and factories established in the region from the end of the 19th century . Biography Coming from a family of Sicilian potters, Jean Gerbino worked from the age of ten in a nearby factory. In 1902, he arrived in France and worked as a turner with the Massiers in Vallauris . In 1905 in Algeria , he created his own workshop in Maison-carrée ( 18th arrondissement of Algiers ). Then he returned to France and went to work at Pichon in Uzès. He returned to Vallauris in 1919. He worked there - among others - with the Massiers. Jean Gerbino is naturalized French on February 9, 1928. He then undertook research for a very special and original mosaic process for his ceramics, which required him fifteen years of work for the final development of "mosaic earths".
In 1930, he set up as a craftsman to exploit his idea and won the Grand Prix de Paris in 1931 (29th Concours Lépine). He is regularly rewarded at the many exhibitions in which he participated until his death in 1966. The manufacturing secret of these earth mosaics is transmitted from generation to generation and the company continues to this day. His son Jean Antonin worked in the business until his death in captivity in 1944. From 1943 to 1953, the artist worked with his son-in-law, Ange Joseph Capra, who died in 1953. J. Capra created fine decorations in blue and green tones. Jean Gerbino then trained his second son-in-law Édouard Alziary who worked alongside him until his death. Edouard Alziary managed the factory from 1957 until December 31, 1974. Then Yvan Koenig (born in 1943) his son-in-law, whom he initiated from 1971 to 1975, succeeded him January 1 , 1975 and becomes the owner January 1 , 1980 to close the December 15, 2003. In 2005, Muriel Koenig, daughter of Yvan and great-granddaughter of Jean Gerbino, opened her workshop in Vallauris and continued the tradition for the 4th generation by renewing shapes and decorations. Since 1984, an avenue in Vallauris near the stadium bears his name. An exhibition of 300 pieces was dedicated to him in Vallauris October 13, 2007 to January 6, 2008.
