Alain Fichot

Alain Fichot (b. 1952) is a French ceramic artist based in Anost, France, known for his work with crystalline glazes on porcelain. He began making pottery in the 1970s, initially focusing on wood‑fired stoneware and later gas‑fired ceramics. As interest in glaze effects grew, he turned his attention to porcelain, and for the past 15 years has devoted his practice to objects in which function is secondary, allowing him to concentrate on the development of crystalline glazing, often referred to as dream skin.

In Europe, the history of crystal glazes dates back to the 19th century at Sèvres in France, continued at the Royal Porcelain Manufacture of Copenhagen, and at the Meissen Manufacture in Germany. Contrary to popular belief, crystals are not added to the glaze; they form naturally during the cooling process, growing from nuclei created when silica and zinc combine to form zinc silicate. His work is covered with his own zinc‑, frit‑ and titanium‑based glazes and fired to high temperatures (up to 2300°F), after which the kiln is cooled in a controlled schedule to encourage crystal development. The temperature may be stabilised to achieve ring formation around the crystal nucleus, and a reduction atmosphere applied in the cooling range to vary colours and produce a pearly surface.

While his work is technically rigorous, he hopes that viewers focus on the expressive and poetic qualities of each piece, sharing in the enjoyment he derives from the finished ceramics.