Art & Statues
L'Homme de Keramis, Charles Catteau by Dominique Corrieras
L'Homme de Keramis, Charles Catteau by Dominique Corrieras
Published in 1991 by Editions Vivre son Temps in Paris, this softcover monograph is one of the earliest dedicated studies of Charles Catteau, the designer whose work at Boch Frères Keramis defined a distinctive strand of Belgian Art Deco ceramics. Written in French by Dominique Corrieras, the book traces Catteau's career and design output through detailed photography of his vases, plates, and decorative pieces. The cover features one of his ovoid stoneware vases, its surface covered in a dense pattern of stylized flowers and geometric lines rendered in warm cream, green, and brown tones. This title predates the 2001 Koning Boudewijn Stichting catalogue documenting the De Pauw-Stal collection and remains widely cited in auction and dealer literature as a primary reference for identifying specific Catteau decors and shapes.
Corrieras organizes the book around Catteau's decorative output at Boch Keramis, presenting individual pieces alongside decor numbers and design details that collectors still use today to identify and date specific works. The photography captures Catteau's range across crackle glazes, matte finishes, and the bold stylized florals and animal motifs that made his work instantly recognizable, from butterflies and deer to abstract geometric patterns like the one shown on the cover.
Charles Catteau (1880-1966) trained at the National Ceramics School in Sèvres before moving to Belgium, where he became the leading designer at Boch Frères Keramis in La Louvière. His work there through the 1920s and 1930s established the firm's international reputation and remains among the most sought-after Belgian ceramics of the Art Deco period. Dominique Corrieras's research in this early monograph helped lay the groundwork for the more extensive scholarship on Catteau that followed in subsequent decades.
This book is essential for collectors and appraisers of Boch Keramis ceramics, since specific pieces illustrated within it are routinely cited in auction catalogues as a means of establishing provenance and value. Its detailed photography also makes it a rewarding visual reference on its own.
