Optat Milet
Born into a family of ceramists in a village that once boasted at least 32 pottery factories, it was almost certain that Félix Optatus Miletus, known as Optat Milet, would become a potter. Indeed, in 1862 he became a modeler at Sèvres, where he later became a decorator. In 1866, while still employed by the Sèvres factory, he received permission from the mayor of the town to build a furnace close to the factory. There he established an independent workshop that continued in operation under his son, Jean Paul Milet, from 1890 to 1931, and grand-son, Henri Milet, from 1931 to 1971. Milet was one of the leading French ceramists who devoted themselves to the discovery of a formula for the Chinese "sang de boeuf" glaze. He is best known for stoneware with glazes in a variety of colors and effects, earthenware with cloisonne glazes (sometimes on a gold ground), and barbotine wares.
