Roland Blaettler, 2019
On 1st January 1948, the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (SOGC) announced a merger between André Nicole, who by that stage had been listed as a ceramicist at 2 Rue du Torrent in Clarens for a few months (Volume 65, 1947, 3438), and another ceramic artist, Pierre Cuendet (1916–1986). The resulting company “Cuendet & Nicole” was a partnership registered at the above address. The operation was described as follows: “Atelier de céramique et decorations” [ceramics and decorative objects workshop] (SOGC, Volume 66, 1948, 674).
In fact, the pair had probably already been working together for some time by that stage, as the first mention of the “Poterie du Pays de Vaud” label in the media of the Canton of Vaud dates back to 1945, in an advertisement for “Atelier 33”, a boutique selling decorative objects on Place Bel-Air in Yverdon. The advertisement was intended to make lovers of objets d’art aware of the fact that “we have secured the exclusive rights to sell the works of the Poterie du Pays de Vaud (Clarens-Montreux) in Yverdon and the surrounding area. During the festive period we will put on display these charming ceramic figurines in Swiss traditional costumes, which have been declared the ‘Most Beautiful Souvenirs’, the highest distinction awarded by the Schweizerische Verkehrszentrale (Swiss Tourist Board)” (Journal d’ Yverdon dated 22nd December 1945, 11). The following year the two ceramicists opened a postal cheque account under “Poterie du Pays de Vaud, Cuendet & Nicole” (SOGC, Volume 64, 1946, 286). On 28th August that year, the official gazette of Vevey (p. 4) announced that all marksmen taking part in the “Jubilé” shooting competition in Corsier would receive a refined white earthenware plate which would be “artfully decorated with the ancient crest of the society made by the Poterie du Pays de Vaud in Clarens”.
Two commemorative plates recorded in CERAMICA CH also date from 1946. One is housed at the Museum in Montreux (MM 1075A), the other at the Historical Museum in Lausanne (MHL AA.VL 2012 C 7493). Both objects are made of faience refined by adding overglaze painted decoration and even gilding. These early works were not very accomplished in their execution, the shapes being somewhat cumbersome, the enamel having firing faults and the painting lacking finesse and precision.
Between 1947 and 1953, the Annuaire Vaudois, a local yellow pages, ran advertisements promoting the sale of small ceramic figures, vases and “plates for societies and abbeys”. Another advertisement which was published in the official gazette of Vevey between 1951 and 1954 (e.g. in the issue dated 6th November 1954, p. 5), listed the following offers: “Porcelain firing. Large selection of faience objects for decoration. Pieces made to template drawings. Firing and enamelling of collectors’ items”. From 1947, a second address, 14 Rue Centrale, was added; this may have been the address of the shop itself.
After 1954, the “Poterie du Pays de Vaud” label seems to disappear, and the partnership between Cuendet and Nicole appears to have ended.
Pierre Cuendet continued to run the workshop in Clarens on his own. In 1958 he opened a new postal cheque account under the name “Pierre Cuendet, Poterie de Clarens” (SOGC, Volume 76, 1958, 1362). An advertisement published in the official gazette of Vevey on 10th September 1971 (p. 11) promoted the products made by the Poterie de Clarens at 14 Rue des Artisans: ceramic cladding, fireplace ornaments, sculptures. In 1973, Cuendet went into partnership with his daughter, Sophie van der Mije, who was also a potter (L’Est Vaudois dated 17th December 1973, 2).
Pierre Cuendet’s obituary in the Est Vaudois newspaper tells us that he had studied at the School of Arts in Lausanne, specialising in sculpture and painting before turning his attention to pottery making. He continued to work as a potter for the rest of his life (issue dated 31st January 1986, p. 3).
Sources
Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (accessed at e-periodica.ch)
Canton of Vaud press (accessed via the Scriptorium website of the Cantonal and University Library of Lausanne)
Translation Sandy Haemmerle
