The Musée de la Ceramique (Ceramics Museum) in the 17th century Hotel d’Hocqueville, has a collection stretching from the 16th to the 18th century of the Rouen faience that made Rouen one of Europe’s most famous centers for earthenware. Rouen’s first famous maker was De Masseot Abaquesne who worked here from 1524 to 1557 and his tiles and portrait vases show the delicacy and fine drawing of the early Rouen school.
The museum has around 6,000 pieces of which two-thirds are from Rouen. Rouen pottery might have declined from 1800 onwards, but it was as famous as the better known names of Lille and Nevers, Delft and Sèvres. The museum is currently being renovated, so some galleries may be closed.
The Ceramics Museum in Rouen, Normandy
1 rue FauconTel.: 00 33 (0)2 35 07 31 74
Website
Main galleries are free on the 1st Sunday of the month
Free for under 26 year olds
Shoppping for Ceramics in Rouen
Rouen still has a couple of shops selling the delicate ceramics which are still made here.26 rue Saint-Romain
Tel.: 00 33 (0)2 35 88 77 47
Website
56 rue Saint-Romain
Tel.: 00 33 (0)2 35 07 12 30
Website
