Montmollin, Daniel de

First name: 
Daniel
Initials: 
D.
Prefix: 
de
Surname: 
Montmollin
Year of birth: 
1921
Birthplace: 
Saint-Aubin (canton Neuchâtel Suisse)
Country of birth: 
Switzerland
Working period: 
around 1950
CV: 

Daniel de Montmollin is born in Switserland in 1921. After his study theology he joined the ecumenical monastic community, the Communauté de Taizé (Bourgogne France) in 1942. In this community he started working as a cook and builder. Since 1949 Frère Daniel discovers as an autodidact the art of the potter. In 1952 he encounters the swiss potter Philippe Lambercy and both men start a research on stoneware glazes. Since reading the Potters Book by Bernard Leach in 1956 he exchanged the earthenware with tinglaze for grès. De Montmollin is very much interested in the transformation of minerals during the firing process.

See the video with the potter: https://youtu.be/BhaefDztfdY

Pictures: Portrait around 1986 (source Brunhammer); Frère Daniel in his studio 2011 (source Journal TDG); vase (source Botterweg Auctions Amsterdam 2014); vase (source Drouot Paris); signature (source Botterweg Auctions Amsterdam 2014).

Bibliography: 
  • Brunhammer, Yvonne e.a., Terre de France, quelques visages céramique, 1986.
  • Moderne Keramik aus Frankreich: 1970 bis 2000. Aus der Sammlung Kermer. Theodor-Zink-Museum, Wadgasserhof, Kaiserslautern, 2014.