Today's ceramists, carrying on the tradition of skilled ceramic making, produce everyday objects, tiles and works of art. Certain artists welcome scheduled visits, while others present their creations in an exhibition/sales room.

The Oise Departmental Museum, in Beauvais, is home to a rich collection of ceramics dating from the 9th to the 21st centuries. Due to the museum's current renovation, the collection is temporarily closed to the public; however, a few masterful works by Auguste Delaherche are still on exhibit.

The Pottery Museum of Lachapelle-aux-Pots also houses an interesting collection of some 300 pieces of everyday, utilitarian pottery, as well as artistic works by Auguste Delaherche, Pierre Pissareff and André Bouché, famous local ceramists.

You also won't want to miss the Gallé-Juillet Museum in Creil, with its collection of nearly 300 faience pieces, from Creil and Creil-Montereau.

Now on exhibit...

Two Noyon-based ceramists, Caroline Sobczak and Laurent Salomon, have recently opened an exhibition/sales room in Rue du Général de Gaulle in Noyon. In addition to their own works, visitors can discover the creations of a guest ceramist. Until the end of December, Sylvie Thémereau presents her porcelain decorated with traditional Ponchon-style designs in cobalt blue.

Oise Departmental Museum
1, Rue du Musée
60000 BEAUVAIS
Tel: +33 (0)3 44 11 43 83

Open every day except Tuesday and certain bank holidays (reservations required for groups):
- From 10 AM to 12 noon and from 2 to 6 PM, from 1 October to 30 June.
- From 10 AM to 6 PM, from 1 July to 30 September.

Education Office: for any inquiries, please contact Mr Schuller on +33 (0)3 44 11 45 83.

Pottery Museum
17 Avenue Tristan Klingsor
60650 Lachapelle-aux-Pots
Tel: +33 (0)3 44 04 50 71

Open every day except Monday, from 1 April to 31 October:
- From 2 to 6 PM during the week.
- From 2:30 to 6:30 PM on weekends and bank holidays.

Reservations required for guided group tours.

Gallé-Juillet Museum
1 Allée du Musée
60100 Creil
Tel: +33 (0)3 44 29 51 50

Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 2 to 5:30 PM, and on Sundays from 2:30 to 5:30 PM. Closed on bank holidays.

Guided tours only, at 2, 3 and 4 PM and on Sundays at 2:30, 3:30 and 4:30 PM. Reservations required for group tours.