Rating and value of ceramics, vases and sculptures by Clément Massier

If you own an object by or after Clément Massier, and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers will offer you their appraisal services.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its value on the current market.

Then, if you wish to sell your work, we will direct you to the best possible arrangement to obtain the optimum price.

Rating and value of works by Clément Massier  

Clément Massier is a French artist who is fairly well known to collectors of ceramics and sculpture. If you own one of his works, it may be worth more than you think. On the art market, prices for Massier's works can be very high at the auctioneer's hammer.

His ceramic works are particularly prized by French and European buyers, and the price at which they sell on the art market ranges from €10 to €26,000, a fairly substantial range,but one that says a lot about the value that can be attributed to Massier's works.

In 2012, a ceramic plate entitled Jeunes femmes autour d'un bassin sold for €26,000 while it was estimated at €4,000 to €5,000, more than five times the high estimate.

Order of value from a simple work to the most prestigious

Style and technique by artist Clément Massier

Clément Massier was part of the late 19th century revival of the decorative arts, blending Mediterranean tradition with technical innovation.

He established himself as a master of iridescent enamel, most famous for perfecting the technique of metallic lustre ceramics (iridescent lustre), which is inspired by Hispano-Moorish traditions.

His pieces, often in coppery, purplish or golden hues, catch the light and change appearance depending on the angle of view, creating a lively, moving visual effect.

The most recurrent motifs are vegetal and symbolic, his decoration borrowing from nature (foliage, flowers, seaweed), but also from symbolism, incorporating more dreamlike or stylized motifs, sometimes of oriental inspiration.

Massier's forms are free and supple, he favors curved lines, undulating shapes, sometimes asymmetrical, echoing the research of Art Nouveau and the movement of nature.

He collaborates with many artists and sometimes works with painters and decorators to enrich his decors, contributing in this way to inscribe his works in a complete artistic approach.

His ceramics are characterized by their decorative and utilitarian functions, with his work ranging from purely decorative objects to functional pieces such as vases, bowls and planters.

The life of Clément Massier  

Clément Massier (1844-1917) was a 20th-century ceramist active on the Côte d'Azur.

Born in Vallauris, he began his training in the family workshop with his father, Jacques Massier. Gaetano Gandolfi taught him the different techniques of ceramics, particularly glazed ceramics.

After Jacques Massier's death, the artist went into partnership with his brother, Delphin Massier. In 1883, he set up his own workshop and acquired a wealthy clientele throughout the Côte d'Azur (Golfe Juan, Cannes, Nice, Monaco ...).

His production grew extremely fast to keep pace with orders, and he had 120 employees just one year after opening his business. In 1887, he was officially appointed supplier to the Crown of England, cementing his legitimacy and popularity and boosting his stock.

He collaborates with various ceramic artists such as Lucien Lévy-Dhurmer, appointed artistic director of the manufacture.

Pushed to innovate by the growing success of his works, Massier researched iridescent ceramics and presented turquoise ceramics with a metallic lustre at the 1900 Universal Exhibition, for which he won the gold medal.

Clément Massier died in 1917, his daughters would continue to publish his works. 

Focus on Vase aux iris, Clément Massier, circa 1900

The work Vase aux iris is an emblematic piece from Clément Massier's production of metallic lustre ceramics.

The colors are ever-changing, with the vase featuring metallic reflections that oscillate between violet, copper and gold depending on the light, underlining the mastery of iridescent lustre.

The floral motif is stylized, almost floating, in a decorative symbolist spirit typical of Art Nouveau.

The shape of the vase is slender, the body of the object slightly domed then narrowed at the neck, following a harmonious, soupy line that naturally accompanies the movement of the flowers.

A certain sensation of movement emanates from the work, insofar as the sinuous stems and petals give the surface a fluid rhythm, as if the plants were undulating in an invisible current.

The smooth, almost liquid surface creates an effect of depth, as if the motifs were suspended in the glaze. This piece is a testament to understated elegance. Despite its chromatic richness, the piece remains sober, refined, with a restrained palette that plays on nuance rather than contrast.

This is a decorative piece in its own right that goes beyond a simple utilitarian function  it is a work that also has a decorative purpose, where form, decoration and technique become one.

Clément Massier's imprint on his period

Clément Massier played a major role in redefining ceramics art in France at the end of the 19th century. He established himself as a forerunner of the Art Nouveau in ceramics, anticipating the forms and motifs characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement, well before its full recognition in the decorative arts.

His work had an international influence, being noticed at major world's fairs (notably Pairs in 1900), which ensured him international renown.

He thus achieved a fusion of technique and aesthetics, insofar as he embodied a modern approach in which technical innovation (enameling, metallic lustre), was placed at the service of original aesthetic research.

He was also influenced by other ceramists, his mastery of iridescent lustre inspiring many contemporaries, both in France and abroad. His production is also marked by his Mediterranean roots. Settled in Golfe-Juan, he draws on the light and shapes of the Mediterranean, helping to make the South of France and Vallauris an important artistic hotbed.

He also contributes to the status of ceramics as an art in its own right : thanks to his work and that of other artists, ceramics moves out of the strictly utilitarian realm into that of the plastic and decorative arts.

Clément Massier on the auction market

Since the 2000s, Clément Massier's work has been enjoying renewed interest and growing recognition, driven by the craze for Belle Époque and Art Nouveau decorative arts.

Prices for the artist's works are on the rise, with the most emblematic pieces, notably metal chandelier vases decorated with floral or symbolist motifs regularly fetching several thousand euros, or even more for rare formats or in perfect condition.
Demand for the artist's pieces remains buoyant. Collectors specializing in ceramics, but also Art Nouveau enthusiasts actively seek out his works for their technical and aesthetic originality.

His works are present in many auction houses and especially at Drouot, often highlighted in sections or sales dedicated to the decorative arts.

The artist's appeal is international, since the market is not limited to France, but his works also appeal to American, British and Japanese collectors who are sensitive to the finesse of his decorations and enamel work.

The accessibility of his works is also relative, in the sense that while some works reach high sums, other simpler formats such as goblets, cache-pots and small vases remain accessible, which helps to maintain a lively market dynamic.

Massier's craftsmanship and signature reinforce the heritage value of his pieces, which are often perceived as collector's items as much as works of art.

Recognizing Clément Massier's signature   

Not all objects produced by Clément Massier are signed. Moreover, there are many copies, which is why it's important to appraise your work.

Knowing the value of a work

If you happen to own a work by or after Clément Massier, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal using our form on our website.

A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you promptly to provide you with an estimate of the market value of your work, as well as any relevant information about it.

If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also be on hand to provide you with alternatives for selling it at the best possible price, taking into account market inclinations.