Marie-Thérèse Espelt, known better as Mithé Espelt, was a dominant force in mid-20th-century ceramics in France. Mithé is remembered for her modern ceramic wall mirrors, gilded and enameled ashtrays and other ornate objects and boxes, often featuring birds and lively colors. She preferred not to sign her pieces and, as a consequence, much of her work has been misattributed, including to French ceramist François Lembo.
Mithé grew up in the Camargue region of France. Her father’s extensive network included 1904 Nobel Prize winner Frédéric Mistral and Parisian painter and decorator Jean Hugo. Mithé’s early introduction to a community of artists inspired her to study sculpture and drawing at the Beaux-Arts School in Montpellier in 1939.
Mithé’s early work caught the attention of French ceramist Emilie Decanis and jewelry distributor Charles Démery. Mithé set up a ceramics workshop in the Hôtel de Bernis in Lunel, where she quickly garnered a reputation for her ceramic work and accessories, including mirrors, jewelry boxes and buttons. Démery founded the Souleiado boutique, which began distributing Mithé’s work, thus attracting a worldwide audience.
French author Antoine Candau wrote a retrospective book on Mithé’s career titled Mithé Espelt, the Discreet Luxury of the Every Day, which contributed to bringing her legacy to the forefront while shedding light on her anonymity. While Mithé was respected within her inner circle, the general public is only now beginning to understand the immense talent behind her over five-decade-long career.
Find Mithé Espelt mirrors, decorative objects, wall decorations and more for sale on 1stDibs.
Gold Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Abstract decors with gold glaze and pockets of molten glass Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in...
Ceramic
Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte with Flower Motif
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical flower decor with the numeral indication of the temperature. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in the...
Ceramic
Art Deco Nudy Lady Thermometer
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Celluloid nude lady Art Deco thermometer.
$175
H 15 in W 6 in D 1 in
American Mid Century Atomic Age Walnut & Brass Wall Thermometer & Baromether
By Springfield Armory
Located in San Diego, CA
A classic wall Thermometer by Springfield circa 1950s, nice walnut case in great condition working.
Brass
$1,000Sale Price|33% Off
H 39 in W 8.5 in D 1 in
Rummy Grapefruit Soda Advertising Tin Thermometer Sign
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "Rummy Grapefruit Soda" advertising sign / thermometer, circa 1950s. The piece is in very good working condition with great color and graphics. A rare piece of soda memorabil...
Metal
Victorian Marquetry Wall Barometer and Thermometer
Located in London, GB
Victorian marquetry wall barometer and thermometer. English, 19th century Measures: height 98cm, width 25cm, depth 7cm. This elegant piece is a fin...
Wood
Ceramic Peacock Bird Sculpture with Flowers in Blue, Yellow and Green
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pretty brightly painted ceramic sculpture of a peacock. This piece depicts a bird with bright blue yellow and green features, perched upon a tree stump ...
Ceramic, Paint
A Grand Tour Souvenir: Neoclassical Column Thermometer
Located in New York, NY
A finely detailed late 19th–early 20th century decorative thermometer modeled after a Roman triumphal column, inspired by classical monuments such as Trajan’s Column in Rome. Cast in...
Bronze
Sautoir en Terre Estampée et Émaillée par Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Necklace by Mithé Espelt, stamped and glazed earthenware jewelry from the 1950s. The "Couture Jewelry" pieces designed by Mithé Espelt at the beginning of her career were very succes...
Ceramic
Antique Thermometer by Taylor
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Antique Thermometer Taylor stamped by maker 6.5 h x 1.75 w x .75 d Original vintage Refer to images provided
Glass
Louis XV Period Gilded Barometer with Thermometer
Located in Pembroke, MA
An elegant French gilded wood barometer with thermometer (period Louis XV, Circa 1760). Barometer has been fitted with a new mercury tube, ...
Giltwood, Glass
$390
H 12 in Dm 0.75 in
Early 20th C. Unused Fisher Scientific Glass Sugar Thermometer with Original Box
By Fisher Scientific
Located in Red Lion, PA
This exceptionally rare early 20th-century Fisher Scientific Brix scale sugar thermometer represents a pristine intersection of industrial history and scientific glassblowing. Crafte...
Lead
$141
H 3.55 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
HOLIDAY GIFT - Mid-Century Ceramic Table Lighter with Grape Motif, Japan, 1950s
Located in Bochum, NRW
Mid-Century Ceramic Table Lighter with Grape Motif, Japan, 1950s Dimensions: Approx. 6x6x9cm For safety reason it will be shipped gas empty. 🎁 Holiday Gifting Tip: With its nostalgi...
Ceramic, Porcelain
Walter Bosse Cat Figurine with Thermometer, Herta Baller, Austria, 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Vienna, AT
A charming Austrian desk thermometer, consisting of a lovely cat figurine and a lantern-shaped thermometer. A humorous design by Walter Bosse, executed by Hertha Baller Austria in th...
Brass
Oval Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelt
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Oval glazed ceramic thermometer by the french artist Mithé Espelt, it features pale beige glaze and crackling gold. Bibliographie: Mithé Espelt, the discreet luxury of the everyday ...
Ceramic
Mithe Espelt Small Ceramic Thermometer
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
A small decorative thermometer made by Mithé Espelt, featuring a rectangular glazed ceramic frame adorned with squares of blue molten glass. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt ...
Ceramic
Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte with Bird Decor
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical decors of birds, flowers and leaves in different shades of pink glaze. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2...
Ceramic
Sold
H 17.92 in W 4.73 in D 0.6 in
Decorative French Ceramic Thermometer by Mithê Espelt (circa 1960s)
By Mithé Espelt
Located in London, GB
Decorative, French vintage ceramic thermometer and casing by Mithé Espelt (circa 1960s). A delightful piece with stylised French coq and castle motifs. The hen is in a lovely deep green and a creamy white; the castles are yellow and green. With a thermometer that accurately measures the temperature in Centigrade, the ceramic is also in very good overall condition. The felt backing is intact and in pristine condition. A truly charming and stylish item for your home or work place. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video may be provided. These works do not generally bear any signature. Not signing her pieces was Espelt's way of shunning recognition and fame. Dimensions: H 45.5 cm / 17.9" W 12 cm / 4.7" D 1.5 cm / 0.6" About the artist: Born in 1923 in Lunel in the South of France, Mithé Espelt grew up in a family of affluent winegrowers and was very close to her grandfather who passed on his love for the arts and brought her into contact with major intellectuals and artists of the time. She rubbed shoulders with Jean Hugo, Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Christian Bérard and many others. She graduated from the Beaux-Arts school in Montpellier in 1942, and then studied at the Fontcarrade school where she took a special interest in ceramics. She began by designing buttons for fashion houses in Paris, before managing the entire production of buttons and jewellery at the Lydia Chartier workshop and collaborating with Line Vautrin, amongst others. At the end of the war, she returned to her native south, opened her studio and took advantage of the growing excitement around ceramics, particularly those from the town of Vallauris. To stand out and sustain the workshop business she started designing gilded jewellery...
Ceramic
Gold Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Abstract decors with gold glaze and pockets of molten glass Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2020) Born in th...
Ceramic
Ceramic Thermometer by Mithé Espelte
By Mithé Espelt
Located in Saint-Ouen, IDF
Beautiful wall thermometer in ceramic by Mithé Espelt. Typical decors of birds, flowers and leaves in different shades of blue glaze. Marie Thérèse Espelt, aka. Mithé Espelt (1923-2...
Ceramic