Jean Marais (1913-1998) Large Vallauris Platter "tree Of Life"

Jean MARAIS (1913-1998) Rare large wall dish in red earthenware from Vallauris with an oblong shape decorated with a relief motif depicting a tree in the shape of a delicate allegorical face entitled "Tree of Life" signed by the artist on the edge. Very good condition, dimensions: 33 cm long X 26 cm wide X 4.5 cm thick. Born in 1913 in Cherbourg, Jean Marais always dreamed of theater, his meeting with Jean Cocteau marked the launch of his acting career, in the 50s, Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais frequented the potters of Vallauris, during the festivities organized in honor of Picasso, the famous painter turned potter. After Cocteau's death in 1963, Jean found a new medium of expression in ceramics. Staying in Cabris near Grasse, he learned about ceramics by browsing potters' works. In Vallauris, he trained in wheel throwing with Jo Pasquali, who encouraged him in his expressive work. Jean Marais' ceramic work is imbued with tales, mythologies, and the roles he played in both theater and cinema: wall-walker, Nefertiti, Goat vase, woman with a pitcher, snake vase, fantastic fauna, Capricorn, lion's head, 4-faced tealight holder, etc. populate the dreamlike universe of the actor, who was able to reinterpret and modernize myths and free the wild and intriguing beauty that invites reverie. In 1975, he opened an art gallery in Vallauris (3 avenue Martyrs de la Résistance) with the help of Jo and Nini Pasquali; this gallery complements the one he opened in the 60s in Megève (Haute-Savoie). But it was in 1980 that he settled in the "city of potters". He then became actively involved in local life by organizing a theater festival. His drawing skills were used to illustrate the posters for the Pottery Festival for fifteen years. He died in 1998 and is buried in the old cemetery of Vallauris (old Saint-Bernard road) with other potters. Jean Marais was named Honorary Citizen of the city in 1998. His works and his personal collection were bequeathed to the Pascalli couple, his friends who had helped him settle in Vallauris. The couple paid tribute to him by creating a museum named Jean Marais in place of his former gallery.