TUNIS - CHEMLA WORKSHOP - Lot 338

TUNIS - CHEMLA WORKSHOP Enameled terra cotta vase with polychrome decoration of fish and plants Signed Moïse Chemla (fish), located and dated 1938 on reverse (small chips and scratches, small holes drilled in upper edge) Height Height : 27.5 cm Note: Source "L'histoire racontée par André Chemla" by Monique Goffard, Lucette Valensi and Jacques Chemla - Published in Tribune juive Ceramics is a family affair for the Chemla family, but it's also a dotted line in the history of Tunisia. Begun under the Beys in 1860 with Abraham Chemla, the story continued with the Protectorate in 1881 when Jacob Chemla founded the El Qallaline pottery, then, with the help of his sons (Victor, Albert and Moïse), the "Sons of J. Chemla" pottery. From 1938 to 1954, Victor and Moïse worked together at the pottery on the Bardo road. On Victor's death, Moïse continued alone, and in 1956 bought what remained of the pottery from Albert and Victor's successors. The first Chemla pottery dates back to 1881, when the Protectorate was established. With his partners Troniet and Bellanger, Jacob Chemla set up the "El Qallaline" pottery in 1880. Here, he produced "Imitation Old Tunis" pottery and, above all, ceramic tiles. In this business, the sons each played their own role: Victor was the technical engineer, specialized in technical aspects, glazes and firing, and took part in decoration by signing his name with a bunch of grapes; Albert was the "public relations" man, who signed his name with a cat when decorating; Moïse, the decorator, signed his name with a fish, and after Albert's departure for Algeria in 1929, was in charge of external relations with banks, customers and the Crafts Department set up by the protectorate authorities. According to Jacques Chemla, Albert's son and a passionate collector of Chemla pottery, 1910 marked a turning point. One day in 1910, Jacob mastered "cobalt blue"! He is recognized as "a master... who, through hard work, alone and without help, rediscovered the glazes of Asia Minor."