Henri (ou Henry) CLAY, Hammam-Lif

French ceramist, active in Tunisia in the 20th century Glazed ceramic with metallic reflections. Signed on the back CLAY H. D. 40 cm An Iznik style eathenware pottery dish, by Henri CLAY, Tunisia, circa 1930 The swirling tulips on this dish, the burst carnation and rosehip flower motif, and the free interpretation on the rim of the traditional Iznik "foaming waves" motif, reflect the Ottoman influence on this dish. The artist combines the technique of metallic reflections found in the earthenware of the Great Mosque of Kairouan for example. In 1925, Henri Clay participated in the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris at the Tunisian Pavilion, and exhibited a panel with metallic reflections as well as pottery. In 1929, he was present at the Tunisian Exhibition. The catalogue mentions under the number 415 of "various flamed potteries and metallic reflections". The newspaper, "Les Annales coloniales", published in Tunis, quotes him in an article of December 7, 1926 dedicated to the industrial effort in Tunisia in these terms "To point out, in addition, the first tests of one of our compatriots installed in Hammam-Lif which seeks to direct the Tunisian ceramics in a new way by obtaining tones with metallic reflections; these tests already gave results of the greatest interest and denote in their author a thorough knowledge of the art of fire and a refined artistic sense". (A crack).