Haunted demons and grotesque goggle-eyed fish were amongst the rare artistic products of Armand Rousseau, owner of the “Société des Grès de Breteuil” (Eure) in Normandy. The pottery firm, originally “Céramique de Breteuil”, owned by Alfred Pillard-Soulain, was acquired by Rousseau and exhibited at the Champ du Mars in Paris in 1894. Through various other exhibitions it obtained four gold medals. Towards the end of the nineteenth century with around 100 labourers on its books, it was also decisive in reviving the economy of the small town. Although Rousseau’s success was largely due to his factory’s output of industrial stoneware ceramics, he turned his hand to a limited output of highly competent art pottery, modelling works in the Japoniste style, so much loved during the belle époque, such as the expressive noh theatre masks that recall the demon Hannya.
World War I unfortunately put an end to production. In 1914-1915, as fighting raged to the north, Rousseau’s establishment was requisitioned for barracks by the French army.
Paul Arthur
