Thau ceramics
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Thau ceramics
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Thau ceramics
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THE STORY OF A TRANSMISSION
François Thirion has been a potter in Marseillan for twenty years. His hands know clay as well as others know the sea. Every movement is precise, the result of years of practice and an unwavering passion. “Pottery is a bit like riding a bike, ” he explains with a smile, “until you’ve got the hang of it, it doesn’t work. But once you do…”
Five years ago, the story took a new turn when Romain, his son-in-law, returned from a career in the audiovisual industry in Canada. The passing on of ceramic expertise was too precious not to be carried on. Together, they now form a duo that combines tradition and creativity, continuing a family legacy spanning three generations.
Thau ceramics
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Thau ceramics
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FROM THE THAU BASIN TO THE STUDIO: DAILY INSPIRATION
Step inside the workshop. Everywhere, pieces are drying, shelves are laden with creations, tools hang from the walls. And above all, there is this palette of colours that echoes the landscape: shades of blue-green tinged with sand and ochre, as if the Thau lagoon itself had left its mark on every piece.
“ The workshop has always been rooted in the local area,” explains François, pointing to a plate adorned with an engraved shell. The Marseillan lighthouse, oysters and fish, all reproduced with precision. Each motif is a tribute to the region, a way of capturing that very special light that bathes the Thau basin.
THE ART OF THE TURN: PATIENCE AND PRECISION
Watch the wheel turn. The clay rises, falls, and spreads out. “We’re going to wrap all our clay molecules around a vertical axis,” explains François as he centres his lump of clay. This is the fundamental step, the one that determines everything else. “ If you don’t do this centring work, you can’t even move on to the next step.”
The shaping seems quick when you watch an experienced potter. It takes just a few minutes to create a form. But that’s misleading. “ What’s very misleading is that when people see us throwing, they get the impression it’s quick. But everything that comes after… takes a long time.” A very long time, in fact.
A piece thrown today will only come out of the kiln glazed at least three weeks later. In the meantime: drying (which can take from 12 hours to three weeks depending on the weather), trimming to refine the shapes, the first firing at 1000 degrees for 8 to 12 hours, glazing, then the second firing at 1250 degrees. “From 1,000 to 1,250 degrees, we use the same amount of energy as from 0 to 1,000. It’s much, much hotter.”
But Céramique de Thau is not just a production workshop. It is also, and perhaps above all, a place for passing on skills. François and Romain offer pottery-throwing courses for all ages and all levels.
Thau ceramics
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This desire to share extends beyond the workshop walls. François and Romain are key figures at the Marseillan Pottery Market, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 2025.
For here, everything is handmade, with a focus on the right technique and fine materials. The glazes are prepared on site, tested and refined. “ You can buy them ready-made, but the problem is that they look a bit like Ripolin paint—very uniform.” François prefers to create his own mixtures, experiment, and seek out those nuances that make each piece unique.
Even the decorations draw on ancestral techniques: shell engravings, vine leaf impressions, and inspiration from the Gallic pottery of La Graufesenque. “ Eight thousand years ago, there were already people making pottery and using shells to create decorations.”
Thau ceramics
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Practical information
➡️ You can find their products at the Sète Tourist Office shop, 60 Grand rue Mario Roustan.
Address: 3 Rue Henri Maffre, 34340 Marseillan-Ville
Website: ceramiquedethau.com
Social media: Instagram and Facebook
