Mid‑Century Modern French Blue Ceramic Dish from Yvonne Gisclard‑Cau, 1960s

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This 25 cm Mid‑Century ceramic dish by French artist Yvonne Gisclard‑Cau is one of those pieces that immediately stops you … Read more This 25 cm Mid‑Century ceramic dish by French artist Yvonne Gisclard‑Cau is one of those pieces that immediately stops you in your tracks. Its powdery robin’s‑egg‑blue background, lightly speckled like a natural eggshell, sets the stage for a rich navy abstract motif that feels both organic and boldly modern. Look closely and you’ll notice a forest‑green halo subtly framing the design — a quiet detail that adds depth and dimension without ever shouting for attention.

This shallow bowl unmistakable Mid‑Century charm: clean lines, confident color, and a sense of playful sophistication. It’s the kind of piece that works beautifully as a functional dish, a decorative centerpiece, or a standout addition to a curated ceramic collection.

25cm diameter x 2.5cm high
440 grams

Sourced in Leiden, Netherlands.


Condition: Original vintage condition with no damage.

About the Artist: Yvonne Gisclard‑Cau (1902–1990)
To fully appreciate this dish, it helps to know the remarkable woman behind it. Yvonne Gisclard‑Cau, born in Carcassonne in 1902, was a French sculptor and ceramist whose career blended classical training with a deeply personal artistic voice.

Raised in a well‑to‑do family — her father an attorney‑turned‑insurer and amateur painter — she grew up surrounded by creativity. Although she earned her baccalauréat in 1919, she resisted expectations to pursue law and instead followed her artistic instincts.

Her early work included bookbinding under painter Henri Pringuet, but her artistic life changed dramatically when she began studying sculpture with Paul Manaut in 1941. Within just two years she mastered molding, modeling, and direct carving. By 1944, the two artists opened a shared studio in Carcassonne, collaborating until Manaut’s death in 1959.

Gisclard‑Cau went on to create public monuments, architectural reliefs, and expressive sculptural works across the Aude and Ariège regions. She earned the Grand Prix National from the Union of Women Painters and Sculptors in 1950, and today her works remain part of the cultural fabric of southern France — including pieces displayed at the Musée des Beaux‑Arts de Carcassonne.

Owning a ceramic piece by Gisclard‑Cau means holding a fragment of this rich artistic legacy — a blend of technical mastery, regional identity, and quiet modernism. See less