picture from a postcardThe house of Picassiette is among the best known mosaic-decorated sites in the world.
It is located in the city of Chartres, in northern France, well known because of its centuries old cathedral, that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
And, of course, the house of Picassiette is also worth a visit. In Guide Michelin terms I would say the site "faut le voyage".....
Life and works
The mosaic creations have been made by Raymond Isidore (1900-1964), who had a simple job, being a sweeper at the local cemetery. He bought the house in 1929 and lived there with his wife and three cildren.
One day in 1938, making a walk in the neighbourhood, he happenend to see some pieces of broken pottery. These drew his attention and he was inspired to begin making mosaic from broken kitchen utensils.
The next twenty years or so, mr Isidore would never pause doing this creative activity. The result was a completely decorated site: exterior and interior of the house, not just the walls, but also the furniture, the beds, the stove....
In this note I will refrain from giving a description of all the creative aspects of mr Isidore's enormeous project, beacuse this already has been done by others. I refer with much pleasure to the website The Joy of Shards (in english) that in a number of pages shows you around the various parts of the site, introducing the mosaics in a sympathetic and open manner.
Mr Isidore got his nickname Picassiete by shortening Picasso de l'assiette, a nickname that probably was first used by a journalist who wrote about him in a journal.
Nowadays in the world of mosaic-lovers and -makers "picque assiette" is a generic name for mosaic products made with found material.
Mr Isidore died some two days before his 64th birthday
The site is a museum nowadays
The house was declared to be an official Monument Historique in 1983. Nowadays it is part of the Chartres Museum of Fine Arts.
Documentation/more pictures
* Website The joy of shards (in english)
* Paul Funks, Les rêves de porcelaine de Picassiette, (article in french)
It is located in the city of Chartres, in northern France, well known because of its centuries old cathedral, that attracts thousands of visitors every year.
And, of course, the house of Picassiette is also worth a visit. In Guide Michelin terms I would say the site "faut le voyage".....
Life and works
The mosaic creations have been made by Raymond Isidore (1900-1964), who had a simple job, being a sweeper at the local cemetery. He bought the house in 1929 and lived there with his wife and three cildren.
One day in 1938, making a walk in the neighbourhood, he happenend to see some pieces of broken pottery. These drew his attention and he was inspired to begin making mosaic from broken kitchen utensils.
The next twenty years or so, mr Isidore would never pause doing this creative activity. The result was a completely decorated site: exterior and interior of the house, not just the walls, but also the furniture, the beds, the stove....
picture courtesy of Jessica Straus
In this note I will refrain from giving a description of all the creative aspects of mr Isidore's enormeous project, beacuse this already has been done by others. I refer with much pleasure to the website The Joy of Shards (in english) that in a number of pages shows you around the various parts of the site, introducing the mosaics in a sympathetic and open manner.
Mr Isidore got his nickname Picassiete by shortening Picasso de l'assiette, a nickname that probably was first used by a journalist who wrote about him in a journal.
Nowadays in the world of mosaic-lovers and -makers "picque assiette" is a generic name for mosaic products made with found material.
Mr Isidore died some two days before his 64th birthday
The site is a museum nowadays
The house was declared to be an official Monument Historique in 1983. Nowadays it is part of the Chartres Museum of Fine Arts.
Documentation/more pictures
* Website The joy of shards (in english)
* Paul Funks, Les rêves de porcelaine de Picassiette, (article in french)
* A video on Culturebox (in french)
la maison de Picassiette
22 rue de Répos
28000 Chartres FR
open for the public 1/4 - 30/9 not on tuesdays
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