Digoin Ceramics

where I found my favorite drinking cups

I was commissioned by Maille to travel to France in May of 2019, to film the mustard fields in full bloom. After completing our frolic through the golden fields, we drove south to visit the oldest pottery maker in the Loire Valley, Digoin, where the ceramic jars for Maille mustard have been made for over 100 years. This large factory houses a humble twenty employees who work expertly to create these jars, along with a myriad of other beautiful ceramic pieces.

The area in which Digoin is located, Paray-le-Monial, was nicknamed the “Valley of the ceramics” as once, there were over 40 ceramic manufactories in the area. This stemmed from the discovery of a high quality clay found in the Canal du Centre, leading many ceramicists to establish roots here. Eventually, many of these manufactories shut down, leaving only a handful behind, including Digion. However, a few years ago, the manufactory was reinvigorated by a woman named Corinne Jourdain—a marketing specialist who has a passion for ceramics. She desired to get the operation up and running once more.

Upon our arrival, a grey mist blanketed the sky, and inside, darkened hallways were illuminated simply by the diffused light of the overcast day. The floor was made of mosaic tiles laid in a scalloped pattern. Corinne poured us instant coffee, and spread wrapped sweets across the center of the long wooden table. We were given a short history as we warmed our hands on the mugs of hot coffee. We walked the factory grounds—its many levels and rooms seeming to continuously appear out of thin air. The weekend visit, empty of employees, made the depth of the story in the factory walls even more palpable. There were rooms of raw clay, and large mixing apparatuses, casting rooms, and rooms filled with large tubs of pastel-colored enamel. Racks upon racks held drying ceramic jars. I stumbled upon several large shelves of samples where bowls, some matte and others glazed, cassoulet dishes, and vases with tall, thin necks displayed their beauty. I was entranced. Completely delighted.

The manufactory was romance in its truest form. I left better understanding the handicraft that goes into creating ceramics, and with two drinking cups and a spoon rest. Whenever I use these items, I always remember the hands and historical expertise that went into making them.

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