Camille THARAUD 1878–1956 He studied at the Lycée Gay-Lussac in Limoges and at the École Supérieure de Bellac. His favourite subject was chemistry. During his studies, he met Francis Chigot, who influenced his decision to work with porcelain. Called up during the First World War, at the age of 36, he was seriously wounded in the head. Evacuated to Paris, he was granted convalescent leave, which he spent in Limoges. It was at this time that he had the opportunity to work with porcelain. His first experiments took place at the former Louis Tharaud factory, named after a man with whom he was not related. After several months of renting the premises, on 29 January 1920 he acquired this factory, founded in 1854 but abandoned for 35 years, situated on Rue du Calvaire and Boulevard des Petits-Carmes in Limoges. From then on, he began renovation work and replaced the outdated direct-flame kiln with a reverse-flame kiln. His early research into coloured clay bodies, which he had begun as early as 1915 whilst convalescing, would lead him to develop decoration using coloured glazes. Instead of colouring a thin layer of clay or painting onto an already hardened glaze, Camille Tharaud succeeded in colouring the glaze itself
From 1920 to 1923, he went through a period of severe trials and the company struggled to survive. The colour palette was still limited, the early pieces were small in size, and the designs were rather tentative… His experiments nearly led to disaster; in early 1924, he came close to bankruptcy. With the help of the banks, he continued his business and, ultimately, succeeded.
Knight of the Legion of Honour. Awarded in 1924
Major Exhibitions
1925 – International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts
1927 – Salon des Artistes Décorateurs
1928 & 1929, Paris: Salon des Artistes Décorateurs and Salon d’Automne
1930 – Paris: Salon des Artistes Décorateurs; Salon d’Automne; ‘Aeronautics and Art’ Exhibition (Pavillon de Marsan)
1931 – Musée de Sèvres, ‘Works by Modern Ceramists 1890–1930’ Exhibition, 16 pieces on display; Salon des Artistes Décorateurs; International Colonial Exhibition
1932 – Paris: Salon des Artistes Décorateurs; art exhibition, Maison de France
1933 – Paris: Salon des Artistes Décorateurs
1937 – 1937 World’s Fair
1939 – New York: Exhibition by the Limoges Porcelain Makers’ Association
(Source: Wikipedia)
