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HENRI DEUX WARE

   The so-called Henri Deux Faience, that mysterious and unique ware, as Mr. Marryat terms it, is more properly described as Oiron ware. Within the last few years a large amount of evidence has been brought forward to prove that this mysterious faience was made in Touraine, in the chateau of Orion near Thouars (Deux Sevres), the princely residence of the Gouffier family, under the direction of Helene de Hangest, widow of Artus Gouffier, sieur de Boissy, Governor of Francis I. when Duke of Valois. It appears that Helene had, in 1529, a potter named Charpentier specially attached to her person, and that her librarian, Bernard, was also associated in the ornamenta-tion of this pottery. She died in 1537, leaving her son, Claude Gouffier, heir of the estate, and he carried on the work probably until 1568. 

   The Oiron pottery has been divided into three distinct periods. In the first, the pure taste of Helene de Hangest mani-fests itself by simplicity of the forms and details. The arms of various houses, probably friends of the Gouffier family, to whom the pieces were presented, are found in specimens of this period, as well as the arms of the King and the Dauphin. Gilles de Laval, whos arms are on one piece, is said to have been a friend and companion of Artus Gouffier. In this period we see the delicate interlacings and arabesque designs dic-tated by the special taste of Bernard, evidently borrowed from