Since 1857, Jars Céramistes has handcrafted ceramic tableware in Anneyron, Southern France, blending raw stoneware and vibrant glazes for unique, organically shaped pieces full of character. Recognised as a Living Heritage Company, Jars brings together deep-rooted savoir-faire and a contemporary design sensibility. From everyday plates and bowls to serving dishes, cups and vases, Jars pieces – with their subtle variations and beautiful glazes – are designed to be used and loved every day.
Here, we speak to Valentine Desgaultières, Jars Céramistes’s Marketing & Communications Manager, about the brand’s enduring values, the beauty of objects made slowly, and how ceramics intended for daily life can quietly elevate the rituals of home.
A selection of Jars' Cantine collection pieces
What values have guided the Jars workshop from the beginning?
From the outset, Jars has been driven by a simple but demanding ambition: to create beautiful, useful and durable objects. Pierre Jars, our founder, established a workshop where craftsmanship, materials and everyday use were central and where creativity played a quiet but essential role in shaping forms, colours and gestures. Those values remain intact today: handmade savoir-faire, French manufacturing recognised as a Living Heritage Company, deep respect for natural materials, constant creative exploration, and a sincere attention to people and the environment. They inform every collection we make.
What traditions and techniques define the Jars approach?
Our process is entirely handmade, involving ten stages and an average of 21 manual gestures per piece. We create our own stoneware clay in-house using carefully selected natural earths, and we fire at high temperatures for strength and depth of colour. Our glazes, developed through decades of research, are closely guarded workshop secrets, passed from artisan to artisan.
Jars' tableware has been crafted by hand in Anneyron in 1857
What gives each piece its unique character?
It’s the combination of our white stoneware body, which enhances our in-house glazes, and refined through constant experimentation and happy accidents. Every glaze is applied by hand – dipped, brushed or delicately sprayed – so no two pieces are ever identical. Inspiration comes from nature, mineral surfaces, and the contrast between matte, glossy, crackled or crystallised finishes. During high-temperature firing, pigments fuse with the clay and reveal subtle, unpredictable variations. That element of surprise is part of the beauty.
Jars pieces feel both robust and refined. How do you achieve that balance?
We design for daily life. High-fired stoneware provides strength, while careful control of proportions, thickness and glazing brings refinement. The result is ceramics that can elevate a table yet withstand everyday use.
Each piece involves ten stages and an average of 21 manual gestures
How does Jars approach responsible production?
Responsibility is intrinsic to our relationship with the earth and has been part of our DNA for more than 165 years. We use natural, safe materials from trusted partners, reuse all surplus clay, water and even kiln heat, and produce locally in our original workshop in Anneyron. We also design objects to last and encourage meaningful use.
Is there a moment in the making process that still feels magical?
The ‘grand feu’ firing is perhaps the most magical moment. It’s when the glaze melts, reacts, and reveals its true personality. Each firing brings surprises: subtle tonal shifts, textures, and effects that cannot be fully predicted – an alchemy of mastery and chance.
Jars' glazes, developed through decades of research, are closely guarded workshop secrets
What do you hope people feel when they hold a Jars piece for the first time?
An immediate connection to the material, and the pleasure of holding something generous and authentic – simple yet quietly luxurious and poetic. Each piece is an invitation to share, to gather and to be convivial and made to accompany everyday moments. Our ceramics are designed to be used, cherished and become part of a home.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Jars?
Continuing to experiment. Expanding our Lab for bespoke work with chefs and designers. Collaborating with creative voices who share our values and above all, remaining curious while staying true to our roots.
During high-temperature firing, pigments fuse with the clay and reveal subtle, unpredictable variations, which only adds to their beauty
Discover the Collection
We have chosen some of favourite pieces from Jars' collections, available in a number of different colours to suit every home and all tastes. Here is just a taster...
Jars Tourron Matiere Oil Bottle
