Jason Jacques Inc, is more than a person, place or thing, it is the living passion of a man obsessed with ceramic artworks from the turn of the century. My name is Jason Jacques and few things have inspired my life as do these vessels or the zeitgeist of the movement behind them. My business was called Turn of the Century Decorative Arts for 13 years. It was a play on words stating the obvious, decorative arts of the turn of the 19th century, and the turning of the potters wheel.


I have often been heard to say that ceramics are the ultimate expression of mans relationship to the physical world: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The raising of the earth into form by means of adding water. The firing of the form, fire the combustion of air, the cooling of the form into permanence in air. The vessel spun on a wheel by a mans hands, that wheel centered in the mans "Chi", center of energy. The wheel represents the motion of the universe, the vessel represents the womb, the creation of life, holder of liquid from which we were formed. Maybe God was a potter.


My passion for ceramics is centered in the Art Nouveau and Japanist movements in design. I am inspired by the purity of Japanist pottery much the way the Japanist potter was inspired by the purity of Japanese ceramics. The ultimate experience in ceramics was based in th Art Nouveau movement, where imagination met with technique, where dreams met with chemistry, where fantasy became form.


14 years ago I discovered for myself the magic of Amphora ceramics, the dreamy glazes of Clement Massier, the outrageous combination of magic and dream in Zsolnay clay. The french studio pottery was out of my range and remained a fantasy as I was only 20 years old. I am self taught, driven by passion so strong that I started my business in the flea markets of Paris and Vienna with a thousand dollars, a flashlight and a dream. Today, the collection and expertise I offer, is unparalleled. I say this not in boast. I only wish I could go somewhere and see a collection like mine for sale. It would make my life very simple, I would buy everything at that source if such a source existed. Sadly I can do no such thing, happily my collectors can, they have me.

Success in the decorative arts comes from building great collections for people, earning absolute trust, and watching those collections value vastly increase over the investment. I am not suggesting investing in ceramics. There is no passion in that. Collecting is medicine for the spirit. The real value is in the experience of passion. Living amongst the endless beauty of glazed surfaces enhances a home like no other objectcentric passion. Vessels intigrate the tapestry of home furnishing becoming the point of focus in interior design. Tables and cabinets were made to show off treasure, there is no treasure more subtle and balanced as pottery. If this seems extreme I suggest you view the collection, take a piece home and see for yourself.