JEAN BESNARD (1889-1958) - Lot 53

JEAN BESNARD (1889-1958) Eggshell raku-glazed ceramic soliflore vase with stamped geometric motifs. H_ 40 cm. Jean Besnard, born in Paris in 1889, was the son of painter Albert Besnard. Initially drawn to the decorative arts, he soon turned to ceramics, learning from potter Paul Jacquet in Haute-Savoie, then at a workshop in Ivry. He then moved to Paris, where he developed a personal style that quickly set him apart in the artistic milieu of the interwar years. Active from the 1920s onwards, Besnard took part in major Parisian salons such as the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Tuileries. He also collaborated with the Primavera du Printemps workshop, which published some of his pieces. He became known for his pure vases, bowls and amphoras, often decorated with engraved or incised motifs, or with fabric, tulle or lace printed into the clay before firing. Technically, Jean Besnard experiments with sophisticated textural effects: crackled enamels, vermiculated surfaces, contrasts between matte and shiny, sometimes punctuated by gold or platinum details. His designs, often abstract or geometric, but also featuring stylized animals or flowers, illustrate a subtle balance between formal sobriety and tactile richness. His aim is elegance without ostentation, centered on materials, light and the craftsman's hand. Jean Besnard died in 1958 in Nogent-sur-Marne. His work, representative of French Art Deco, is preserved in several museums, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.