Michel Vandermeersch, expert in European ceramics

The Michel Vandermeersch gallery is specialized in European ceramics from the 14th Century to 1850 with the Sèvres creations of the Restauration period. European ceramics is a sure value specialty since it is only collected by pure collectors and museums. So unlike other specialties, ceramics isn't speculative at all. Collectors don't buy European ceramics as an investment, but only for passion. As dealers we are very generalist in many manufactures, so many of our clients are better connoisseurs than we can be! Our clientele isn't only made of wealthy people; one can find good pieces for less than 1 000 €. Same for vintage cars, our market is a real social patchwork, says Michel Vandermeersch.

Meissen porcelain vase	Capidimonte console table	Sèvres porcelain plate

Ceramics are devided in two major categories: porcelain and and earthenware. For porcelain the current manufacture that is leading the market is Meissen with a German clientele, since Germany is in a quite good economical situation, and also a Russian clientele, since Russia has always been attracted by this manufacture. For earthenware, French manufactures are less searched for by collectors because of the economical situation and because of a lack of new collectors for this speciality. But since a few months average quality pieces seem to be a little more searched for. So I believe French earthenware will gain in interest, says Michel Vandermeersch. Italian majolica are still fashionable. But for the time being there is a crisis in Italy so average quality pieces are loosing in value, but since Italians are living beyond their means and love art, prices and demand should soon rise again for majolica!

CHECK FOR EUROPEAN CERAMICS TRENDS SINCE 2005

Medias are talking a lot of all the records made by Chinese art. Chinese are very chovinistic and nationalist, so for the time being they only focus on their own productions. I often see Chinese buyers come into my gallery willing to buy Chinese porcelain, while the pieces they are looking at are Delft eartherware! Japanese use to be very openminded and have bought a lot of western cultures arts and antiques.

Looking for more info about European and Asian ceramics? Check our other interviews:

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Comments

• Josesh Silman (2011-02-10) Report to moderator european ceramics is a bad investment! european earthenware artworks are often thick and have heavy designs; and european porcelains are far from the masterpieces that china has to provide. i used to collect sevres and meissen plates and I can tell my collection has lost in value since a decade. my advice: buy asian and asian export porcelain! that will be a good investment! european ceramics is a bad investment! european earthenware artworks are often thick and have heavy designs; and european porcelains are far from the masterpieces that china has to provide. i used to collect sevres and meissen plates and I can tell my collection has lost in value since a decade. my advice: buy asian and asian export porcelain! that will be a good investment!

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