Edme Poterat

French potter

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July 1, 2026

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Edme Poterat was a French potter in Rouen, France, who opened a factory in 1647. He is recognized for inventing France's soft-paste porcelain. Poterat also introduced a decorative style known as the radiating festoon (style rayonnant), which was already popular in other design fields.1

Rouen ware encompasses both faience (tin-glazed earthenware) and porcelain. Initially, faience was used for architectural decoration and apothecary jars. Rouen ware is also known for its "embroidered style" (lambrequin), popular in the early 18th century. Rouen porcelain, though rare, has a slightly greenish tint and is decorated in blue.1

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pottery
Faience, or tin-glazed ware
…at Rouen about 1656 by Edme Poterat, introduced a decoration of lambrequins, ornament with a jagged or scalloped outline based on drapery, scrollwork, lacework ornament, and the like. Lambrequins were extremely popular and were copied at other porcelain and faience factories. The faience of Nevers, too, is extremely important and…
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…at Rouen about 1656 by Edme Poterat, introduced a decoration of lambrequins, ornament with a jagged or scalloped outline based on drapery, scrollwork, lacework ornament, and the like. Lambrequins were extremely popular and were copied at other porcelain and faience factories. The faience of Nevers, too, is extremely important and…
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Rouen ware
A Rouen potter, Edme Poterat, who opened a factory in Rouen in 1647, is credited with the invention of France’s soft-paste porcelain. He also introduced the radiating festoon style (style rayonnant) of decoration, which, though it was new to pottery, was already popular in furniture, bookbinding, and garden…
Read More
A Rouen potter, Edme Poterat, who opened a factory in Rouen in 1647, is credited with the invention of France’s soft-paste porcelain. He also introduced the radiating festoon style (style rayonnant) of decoration, which, though it was new to pottery, was already popular in furniture, bookbinding, and garden…
Read More