The Atelier
Last week I was welcomed into the atelier of ceramic artist Martine Guimet located in the beautiful hilltop village of St-Saturnin-les-Apt. I must say that I am quite in love with her work.
Martine makes plaques, tabletops, and sundials out of lava stone from the volcanoes of the Auvergne region of France. She discovered the material when she lived there 25 years ago and has since moved to Provence to interpret her own version of these enameled plaques. Volcanic lava stone is unique because it can support huge shifts in temperature, which is perfect for keeping your plaque outdoors in Provence.
“Le Figuier” (the fig tree) before being painted and baked in Martine’s oven
Martine incorporates Provencal colours and imagery to create number plaques, garden markers and signs for outside such as “Les Oliviers” or “La Petit Maison” or “Côté Jardin” or “Place de l’Apéro” (some of my favourites). These plaques perfectly embody my idealized view of owning a home here in Provence.
Custom Designs
Martine can make a plaque inscribed with whatever you please; she often works for local towns or businesses. She also creates her own sundials but these can only be placed on a wall that is level and facing exactly south.
Entrance to Martine’s atelier
Which one would you put next to your house, or in your garden? Your kitchen?
Visit the Atelier
You can visit Martine’s atelier on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturdays afternoons from 4pm-7pm. She will always welcome you warmly and even show you how she creates her enameled plaques. Her friend, Anne, sells most of her work at the local markets where you can buy one of these wonderful signs reminiscent of turn of the 2oth century antique French street signs, for 55 euros.
Martine Guimet
To find her work ‘sur la marché’:
Lundi : Forcalquier
Mardi : Gordes
Mercredi : St-Rémy-de-Provence
Jeudi : Rousillion
Vendredi : Saint-Saturnin-D’Apt/Eygalièrs
Samedi : Uzès
Dimanche : Coustellet
If you’d like to see more of Martine’s work: Martine Guimet
A selection of Martine’s signs from her stand at Coustellet market
If you take a market tour with me I can guide you in buying products that are made by local artists. If you’d like to order a specific sign let me know and I’ll ask Martine for you.
OMG how did I miss this post lol? This Atelier is right down the street from our house but I have yet to find time to check it out, it has been a whirlwind since buying the house, and I have only had one 2-week stay there since the purchase, so no time to wander around….but this is definitely in the cards for my next visit in March/April. I have no idea what I would/will put on the house but I am definitely going to start thinking about it 😮 Thanks for the post!
I absolutely love her colours. You might have to plant olive trees just to have the sign “Les Oliviers.” For me, it would be worth it. haha. I discovered her at St Remy/Isle sur la Sorgue markets.
Oh how I wish I could plant olive trees! They are my absolute favorite trees! Unfortunately we bought a village house with no yard, so that we didn’t have to worry about lawn care while we are in the U.S.. but it will definitively be a must-have on our next property ?
Great post thank you! I have one of Martine’s fabulous plaques on my patio in California! I bought it in the Apt market whilst living in Lourmarin. Glad to ahve found your site do check mine out too!http://bit.ly/1AQ9643