JACQUELINE LERAT (1920-2009)
Jacqueline Lerat worked alongside her husband Jean Lerat (1913-1992) for forty-seven years. Initially they set up a studio in La Borne in 1943, revitalising the area’s wood-fired ceramic traditions and producing functional pieces. In 1955 they moved to Bourges, building a new wood-firing kiln and beginning to create more sculptural and abstracted works.
Their collaboration in ceramics is considered to be among the most important in post-war France. Their teaching at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts in Bourges has influenced new generations of potters.
Jacqueline continued to live and work in their studio in Bourges after Jean died in 1992 until her own death in February 2009.
Above: Jacqueline Lerat in her studio
Photo © Bernard Guillot
Curriculum Vitae
1939 |
Ecole municipale de dessin de Mâcon (71) |
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1940 |
Ecole des Arts Décoratifs de Paris |
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1941 |
Ceramic studio set up at St Laurent-les-Mâcon |
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Met the potter Anne Dangar |
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1943 |
Moved to La Borne, Cher |
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Met the sculptor and ceramist, Jean Lerat |
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1945 |
Married Jean Lerat and set up studio together |
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1946 |
Birth of François Lerat |
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1949 |
Birth of Claire Lerat |
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1955 |
Set up a new studio with wood-firing kiln with Jean Lerat in Bourges |
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1966-88 |
Professor of Ceramics at the Ecole nationale des Beaux-Arts de Bourges |
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1982 |
Awarded Grand Prix National du Ministère de la Culture with Jean Lerat |
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1992 |
Death of Jean Lerat |
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1994 |
Publication of J.J. Lerat, Bernard Noël/Jacqueline Lerat, Cercle d’art/ Collection Le pré |
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2009 |
February 3, dies at home in Bourges |
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Selected Solo Exhibitions: |
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1970-72 |
Galerie La Demeure, Paris |
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1981 |
Maison de la Culture de Bourges, Retrospective Exhibition |
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1989 |
Château de Ratilly, Nièvre, Recent Works, |
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1994 |
Musée et Maison de la Culture de Bourges, Recent Works |
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1999 |
Musée Bernard-Palissy, Saint Avit, La Capelle-Biron, (Lot et Garonne), France |
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2007 |
Galerie Besson, London. Trois Grandes Dames I |
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Selected Group Exhibitions: |
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1945-50 |
Galerie Rouard, Paris |
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1945-72 |
Salon des Artistes Décorateurs, Paris |
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1947 |
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery |
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1947-49 |
Salon de L’Imagerie, Musée Galliera, Paris |
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Salon de l’Art Sacré, Paris - Rome |
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Participation in various exhibitions organised by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France and abroad |
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1950 |
Les Arts du feu, Galerie Rouard, Paris |
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1951 |
Artisans d’Art, Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris |
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1955-63 |
International ceramic exhibitions, London, Cannes and Ostend, Helsinki and Prague |
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Exposition internationae de Bruxelles |
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Trienniale di Milano |
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1960 |
Decorative Art Exhibition, Tokyo |
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1962-63 |
Maîtres-potiers contemporains, Château de Ratilly, Nièvre |
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Maîtres-potiers contemporains, Musée des Arts décoratifs, Paris |
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1963-70 |
Potiers du Haut Berry, Musée de Bourges and at the |
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Musée national des Arts et Traditions populaires, Paris |
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Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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Biennales internationales de Céramique, Vallauris |
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1971 |
Formes et Muraux, Lyon |
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1972 |
European Contemporary Ceramics, Japan |
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1974 |
Traditions et Art d’une province de France: le Berry, Tokyo |
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1977 |
Artistes-Artisans, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris |
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1980 |
Le Métiers de l’Art, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris |
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1982 |
Chemin de Terres, Maison de la Culture de Bourges |
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1983 |
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris |
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1984 |
Sur Invitation, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris |
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1989 |
Europe des céramistes, Auxerre |
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2004 |
Galerie Capazza, Nançay |
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2005 |
Cinquante ans de céramique française, Musée national de Céramique de Sèvres |
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2006 |
Céramiques XXe siècle, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris |
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2007 |
Galerie Capazza, Nançay |
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| 2008 | Galerie Besson, London, Twenty Years, Twenty Pots | |
Public Collections: |
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Musée Cantini, Marseille |
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Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris |
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Musée national de céramique de Sèvres |
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Musée de Mâcon |
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Musée Bernard-Palissy |
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Musée de Bourges |
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Musée de Sars-Poiteries |
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Victoria & Albert Museum, London |
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Kyoto National Museum |
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Exhibitions at Galerie Besson
| Twenty Years - Twenty Pots | Sep - Oct 2008 |
| Jacqueline Lerat - Trois Grandes Dames I | Jun - Jul 2007 |
