On a recent trip to Paris I spotted a display of beautiful handmade stoneware by Jars Ceramistes from the South of France. There is something about the vibrant glazes and handcrafted shapes that has us craving a summer holiday on the beach and fresh seafood.

Founded in 1857 by Pierre Jars in Anneyron, France, the business was handed down through the Jars family until the 1990s and is now run by 3 entrepreneurs who are passionate about keeping the traditional hand craftsmanship of their region alive.

Jars collect their raw materials from very specific locations - the initial quality and texture of the clay will inevitably define the quality of the end product. The clay is refined, filtered, pressed and rolled; each piece passes through the hands of the ceramicist 17 times before being finalised.

Each piece is glazed through a Spray or Dip-In process using one of Jars’ own special glaze recipes using pigments and metal oxides.

During the vitrification process, at a temperature of 2336 F, the enamel components fuse with the clay. This process allows the products to be non-porous, extremely durable, and creates a very unique, colourful glaze.

For further information or for stockist details, please contact Madeleine Moore at [email protected]

- A.Morris