Stunning Violin Platter

Editor’s Notes

Serve up delicious appetisers on the Violin platter from Astier de Villatte, part of the John Derian collection. Votary of pre-industrial fabrication, Astier de Villatte is celebrated for being the one and only studio in Paris to hold and harbour the traditions of artisanal ceramic production. Restoring the ancestral systems of moulding and stamping, this platter is made using techniques from the Middle Ages which involve moulding a sheet of handmade clay, double firing the ‘biscuit’ piece and glazing the product in white enamel – a lengthy process that requires a drying time of up to one month. Characterised by its oval shape, curved rims and John Derian découpage, the platter is engraved with the brand’s signature crest – depicting an interlacing A & V – alongside the initials of one of the 40 master artisans who created it. Each handmade piece tells a beautiful story, romancing and imparting a sense of nostalgia into its owner. Display it with additional ceramic pieces from the collection to breathe an air of authenticity into your table setting. “We ask people to produce with a good spirit so the pieces look almost alive.”
Benoît Astier de Villatte and Ivan Pericoli, Astier founders Artisanal production gives each ceramic object a unique aspect, meaning products may slightly vary.