Faïencerie de Gien

Between tradition and modernity, a Manufacture for the 21st century

The Faïencerie was founded in 1821 in Gien in the Loire Valley, in the heart of France. The area had exceptional resources for the manufacture of faience: sand, water from the royal river and wood from the forests of Sologne. The Manufacture made its name in the 19th century by creating armorial tableware for the great aristocratic families of Europe and... the tiles in Paris metro stations. 200 years later, a jewel of the decorative arts and recognised the world over, the Faïencerie de Gien is a member of the prestigious Comité Colbert, which brings together the greatest names in luxury and the French art of living.

A vibrant and warm material, Gien fine china is unique and special because of its natural composition (sand, clay, kaolin, etc.) and the quality of its designs and shapes. The clay, moulds and glazes are entirely designed and manufactured at the Faïencerie using exclusive shapes that are kept secret.

Every stage in the production process, from the pile of clay to the plate, is carried out here. A Gien plate requires 26 components and passes through the hands of 30 'master earthenware makers', heirs to 200 years of know-how.