The ceramists' village of La Borne

La Borne is a village of ceramists in the centre of France, a few kilometres from the town of Bourges. The village is home to around a hundred craftsmen, sculptors and ceramists, whose 'boutiques' - that's what the workshops are called - are located in and around the village.

The earliest evidence of pottery-making at La Borne dates from the XIIIᵉ century. Techniques for firing local clay developed from the XVᵉ century onwards, and La Borne enjoyed a major period of prosperity in the XIXᵉ century. Ceramic production was mainly utilitarian at the time and was sold in central and western France.

Important figures in ceramics were working at La Borne at the time, such as Marie Talbot (1814-1874), who came from a family of potters, and whose creations were singular and signed. She depicted popular images and culture, particularly women. She played an important role in the development of La Borne.

In the 20th century, traditional ceramics went into decline. It faced competition from other materials and changing tastes at the time. Unlike other ceramic villages in France, La Borne underwent a transformation with the arrival of artists who came to learn the traditional skills and techniques of the village's craftsmen. It was a time when certain visual artists were making ceramics part of their art.

The work of Jacqueline (1920-2009) et Jean (1913-1992) Lerat reflect the revival of ceramics at the time. Set up in 1943 at La Borne, their first pieces were functional, but their work then moved towards an artistic approach.

From then on, La Borne acquired an international reputation. It welcomed professionals of all nationalities, artists and craftsmen from all over the world. Since 1971, the Association Céramique La Borne has been bringing together artists and craftspeople and bringing life to the village by organising events and exhibitions.

In 2010, the Centre Céramique Contemporaine de La Borne was created in partnership with the Ceramists' Association and the Communauté de Communes des Hautes terres en Haut Berry. The centre is both an exhibition and sales venue and also a place for teaching ceramics, thanks to the ceramics workshops offered to all kinds of audiences.

Organised by the Association Céramique La Borne and the Centre Céramique Contemporaine la Borne, Les Grands Feux de la Borne is an annual event featuring large-scale firings in several of the village's kilns.

It is an important moment in the life of the village of la Borne, a time for celebration and a chance for the public to meet the artisans. Exhibitions, conferences and practical workshops are also organised to showcase the work of the artisans. The public can watch the clay being fired in the artisans' workshops, which are open for the occasion. It's also a time for exhibiting and selling the craftsmen's work.

Firing is an important part of the creative process. The kilns are traditionally wood-fired and come in all shapes and sizes. They can be fired continuously for several days during the major firings and give the ceramics their final appearance and variations in colour. Above all, it makes the clay watertight.

Unlike the La Borne contemporary ceramics centre, whose role is to exhibit the work of current artists and craftsmen from La Borne, the Musée de la Borne is dedicated to preserving the pottery and ceramics heritage. The pieces in its collection are ancient. The museum is located in the old Chapelle St-Jean-Baptiste, an original, bright space for exhibitions.

The important collection of historical pieces, such as those belonging to the Talbot family, has been merged with the collection of artworks by Vassil Ivanoff. Considered "the first ceramic expressionist", Vassil Ivanoff is a major ceramics artist who played a part in the revival of the Borne in the second half of the 20th century. The collection, which began in the 1980s, has been enriched by 20th-century pieces.

From April until 12 November 2023, the museum is presenting the exhibition "Le sacré et l'intime" ("The sacred and the intimate").

The exhibition presents never-before-exhibited works by several major artists from the 19th century to the present day. These artists have all, in their own way, explored the religious, the sacred or the spiritual in their work.

La Borne is a place out of time, where tradition meets a profoundly modern approach to art and craftsmanship. However, the village of La Borne is not an open-air museum: The village is above all the home of artists and craftspeople.

Find out more about La Borne on Laborne.org and museelaborne.com

This blog was written as part of the CRAFTED project, which aimed to enrich and promote traditional and contemporary crafts.