Craftsmanship
History of the potters of St-Jean-de-Fos
It was in the 14th century that, alongside its agriculture, there grew up in Saint-Jean-de-Fos the craft of pottery. This was in part due to the presence of large deposits of clay in the sub-soil of the village. As well as the raw material there were also available, in the nearby limestone uplands, abundant shrubs and bushes, an important source of combustible material. The first known potter was Raymond Sinadié, described in 1556 as an orjolerii (maker of orjols or jugs). From that date onwards, there is an unending list of named master craftsmen. Their number was to reach seventy-five in 1828, and that is without counting the families and employees who also took part in this craft industry.
The production of glazed clay pottery was specifically directed at the requirements of transportation and conservation of food products, food preparation, tableware, sanitary and medical items, devotional objects and toys…It was first and foremost intended for the local peasant population and had to be robust. The potters also manufactured building materials such as interlocking or ridge tiles, pipe-work, finials, water pipes and fountains. They sold what they produced in almost all the villages in the Hérault Valley and as far a-field as Montpellier and Béziers. The distribution was limited by the nature of the clay, which was not such as to allow high temperature fired ceramics to be produced. This fact, combined with the depopulation of the countryside, the failure of the manufacturing techniques to adapt and, most of all, competition from large manufacturers, explains the disappearance of pottery-making from Saint Jean-de-Fos at the beginning of the 20th century.
After a few decades’ absence, there has been a rebirth of activity in the pottery trade and several potters have set up shop in the village or nearby. Some have taken up the traditional kind of production; others have chosen to go in for a more creative approach. A quality charter and a trademark “Saint Jean-de-Fos Potters” have been created together with a market, taking place in August, which, over a period of twenty years, has been unfailingly successful.
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The production of glazed clay pottery was specifically directed at the requirements of transportation and conservation of food products, food preparation, tableware, sanitary and medical items, devotional objects and toys…It was first and foremost intended for the local peasant population and had to be robust. The potters also manufactured building materials such as interlocking or ridge tiles, pipe-work, finials, water pipes and fountains. They sold what they produced in almost all the villages in the Hérault Valley and as far a-field as Montpellier and Béziers. The distribution was limited by the nature of the clay, which was not such as to allow high temperature fired ceramics to be produced. This fact, combined with the depopulation of the countryside, the failure of the manufacturing techniques to adapt and, most of all, competition from large manufacturers, explains the disappearance of pottery-making from Saint Jean-de-Fos at the beginning of the 20th century.
After a few decades’ absence, there has been a rebirth of activity in the pottery trade and several potters have set up shop in the village or nearby. Some have taken up the traditional kind of production; others have chosen to go in for a more creative approach. A quality charter and a trademark “Saint Jean-de-Fos Potters” have been created together with a market, taking place in August, which, over a period of twenty years, has been unfailingly successful.
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