Emile Diffloth
Emile Diffloth began his career at Sèvres and later became director of Boch Frères (c1899-c1909) in Belgium, where he developed crystalline glazes for use on stoneware and porcelain. He worked briefly as a teacher under Taxile Doat at University City (in St. Louis, Missouri), then returned to France where he resumed his career as a ceramist. Diffloth's work is known for its subtly iridescent glazes, some with crystals, others with stylized designs that resemble stencils, and still others with bas relief sculpture inspired by Roman or Renaissance examples.
Diffloth was born at Couleuvres, France. He learned modeling techniques from his father, a professional porcelain modeler, and also trained at Ecole des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
Taxile Doat recruited Emile Diffloth to join the faculty of University City Ceramics in St. Louis, Missouri. In the company of Doat and expert thrower, Eugene Labarrière, Diffloth traveled to America in December, 1909, and took up his position as a chemist and teacher under Doat's direction.
Diffloth's tenure at University City was difficult. He was unaccustomed to the idea of sharing information, even information that originated with Doat, and bridled at Doat's directorial instructions. He remained in St. Louis for less than a year, returning to France with Labarrière in October 1910. Back in his homeland, Diffloth resumed his career on his own terms. He exhibited at the Museé Gallerica and won a gold medal in 1929 as a member of the Société des Artistes Français. He held gold medals bestowed upon him at exhibitions in Antwerp, Brussels and St. Louis and a silver medal bestowed at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.
