Vintage French Ceramic Wall Mirror by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s)
About the Item
- Creator:Mithé Espelt (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 0.6 in (1.5 cm)Diameter: 13.39 in (34 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
Mithé Espelt
Marie-Thérèse Espelt, known better as Mithé Espelt, was a dominant force in mid-20th-century ceramics in France. Mithé is remembered for her modern ceramic wall mirrors, gilded and enameled ashtrays and other ornate objects and boxes, often featuring birds and lively colors. She preferred not to sign her pieces and, as a consequence, much of her work has been misattributed, including to French ceramist François Lembo.
Mithé grew up in the Camargue region of France. Her father’s extensive network included 1904 Nobel Prize winner Frédéric Mistral and Parisian painter and decorator Jean Hugo. Mithé’s early introduction to a community of artists inspired her to study sculpture and drawing at the Beaux-Arts School in Montpellier in 1939.
Mithé’s early work caught the attention of French ceramist Emilie Decanis and jewelry distributor Charles Démery. Mithé set up a ceramics workshop in the Hôtel de Bernis in Lunel, where she quickly garnered a reputation for her ceramic work and accessories, including mirrors, jewelry boxes and buttons. Démery founded the Souleiado boutique, which began distributing Mithé’s work, thus attracting a worldwide audience.
French author Antoine Candau wrote a retrospective book on Mithé’s career titled Mithé Espelt, the Discreet Luxury of the Every Day, which contributed to bringing her legacy to the forefront while shedding light on her anonymity. While Mithé was respected within her inner circle, the general public is only now beginning to understand the immense talent behind her over five-decade-long career.
Find Mithé Espelt mirrors, decorative objects, wall decorations and more for sale on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Vintage Ceramic Wall Mirror by Mithé Espelt (circa 1970s)By Mithé EspeltLocated in London, GBCeramic wall mirror with birds and flowers (circa 1970s) by Mithé Espelt. A delightful decorative piece topped with two pairs of whimsical ename...Category
Vintage 1970s French Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic, Mirror
- Decorative French Ceramic Thermometer by Mithê Espelt (circa 1960s)By Mithé EspeltLocated in London, GBDecorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised French coq and castle motifs. The hen is in a lovely deep green and a creamy white; the castles are yellow and green. With a thermometer that accurately measures the temperature in Centigrade, the ceramic is also in very good overall condition. The felt backing is intact and in pristine condition. A truly charming and stylish item for your home or work place. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video may be provided. These works do not generally bear any signature. Not signing her pieces was Espelt's way of shunning recognition and fame. Dimensions: H 45.5 cm / 17.9" W 12 cm / 4.7" D 1.5 cm / 0.6" About the artist: Born in 1923 in Lunel in the South of France, Mithé Espelt grew up in a family of affluent winegrowers and was very close to her grandfather who passed on his love for the arts and brought her into contact with major intellectuals and artists of the time. She rubbed shoulders with Jean Hugo, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Christian Bérard and many others. She graduated from the Beaux-Arts school in Montpellier in 1942, and then studied at the Fontcarrade school where she took a special interest in ceramics. She began by designing buttons for fashion houses in Paris, before managing the entire production of buttons and jewellery at the Lydia Chartier workshop and collaborating with Line Vautrin, amongst others. At the end of the war, she returned to her native south, opened her studio and took advantage of the growing excitement around ceramics, particularly those from the town of Vallauris. To stand out and sustain the workshop business she started designing gilded jewellery...Category
Vintage 1960s French Scientific Instruments
MaterialsCeramic
- Vintage French Ceramic Wall Mirror by La Roue (circa 1960s)By La RoueLocated in London, GBVintage ceramic flower-motif wall mirror attributed to La Roue, Vallauris, France (circa 1960s). A charming, decorative mirror with rustic but ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Rustic Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic, Mirror
- Decorative French Vintage Ceramic Thermometer and Casing by Mithé EspeltBy Mithé EspeltLocated in London, GBDecorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espect (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised bird and flower blossoms. The rectangular ceramic backdrop f...Category
Vintage 1960s French Wall-mounted Sculptures
MaterialsCeramic
- Vintage French Jewellery Box with Decorative Ceramic Lid by Mithé EspeltBy Mithé EspeltLocated in London, GBVintage French jewellery box with decorative ceramic lid by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). Raised, stylised bird motif with shades of green bot...Category
Vintage 1960s French Decorative Boxes
MaterialsCeramic
- Vintage French Jewellery Box with Decorative Ceramic Lid by Mithé EspeltBy Mithé EspeltLocated in London, GBJewellery box with decorative ceramic lid by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). Quaint raised sunflower motif with pink, green and white over a neutral dark base backdrop. The decorative su...Category
Vintage 1960s French Jewelry Boxes
MaterialsCeramic, Wood
- Ceramic Mirror by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960sBy Mithé EspeltLocated in Saint Ouen, FRA wall mirror designed in the 1960s, fancyfully decorated with a cracked gold outline framing the representation of 2 birds in straw yellow and caramel brown and gold enamel, the dec...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic, Glass
- Mithé Espelt Ceramic Mirror, circa 1960, FranceBy Mithé EspeltLocated in Girona, SpainMithé Espelt ceramic mirror, circa 1960, France. Glazed embossed earthenware. Original felt backing. Circa 1960, France. Very good cond...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic, Mirror, Earthenware
- Ceramic mirror by Mithé Espelt, France, 1960'sBy Mithé EspeltLocated in Paris, FRCeramic mirror by Mithé Espelt, golden flowers decor, France, 1970'sCategory
Vintage 1970s French Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic
- Mithé Espelt, Orange Mirror, Ceramic, circa 1960, FranceBy Mithé EspeltLocated in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FRMithé Espelt (1923-2020), rectangular orange mirror, Glazed ceramic. The back covered with green velvet, circa 1960, France. Measures : Height 38 cm, length 23.5 cm Mithé ...Category
Vintage 1960s European Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic
- Round ceramic mirror by Mithé Espelt, circa 1960By Mithé EspeltLocated in Paris, Ile-de-FranceCeramic mirror "Fleurs". The ceramic frame is decorated with 4 different types of stylized flowers and leaves in shades of red, orange, white and green on a black background. Embos...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsCeramic, Mirror, Felt
- "Moineau" Ceramic Mirror by Mithé Espelt, France 1960'sBy Mithé EspeltLocated in New York, NY"Moineau" (Sparrow) ceramic mirror Decorated with an orange bird surrounded by gilded leaves and flowers on a black background. Rare color. Ref: CANDAU Antoine, Mithé Espelt, " The...Category
Mid-20th Century Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGold