Morzine-Avoriaz Tourist Office has decided to present you with a series of portraits of the iconic figures of Morzine village and local expertise. In this first portrait we meet Gérard le Potier, (Gérard the Potter), who tells us his story and why he’s so fond of his trade.
Unique expertise
Gérard’s account:
“My name is Gérard, but I’m better known in Morzine as “Gégé le Potier”
This is my studio and shop where I make traditional pottery items. I’m often asked “But why don’t you do modern stuff?”
NO, this is the mountains, this is Morzine, in Savoie, and we have to keep the local culture alive. So, for a start, making traditional Savoie pottery involves the sensation of turning the clay, it’s all about sensations. Then there’s the visual, decorative aspect of creating colours and decors, and that’s an amazing escape.
We have to try to keep traditions alive, for the pure and simple reason that they are the very identity of Savoie and the village of Morzine.
The shop itself occupies a chalet. When you enter a potter’s studio, in a way you enter his privacy because nowadays, you never see the intimacy of a studio.
So when I have visitors, I might not be very clean, with my dirty apron and messy hands…
But that’s what the art of receiving people is all about.
It’s a very homely atmosphere. I think that appeals to the people who come to Morzine.
In fact, it’s simple, I’m now selling pottery to the fourth generation of visitors, so I always ask them “why four generations?”, because grandparents, great grandparents, parents, and now children.
They say ‘it’s because the Morzine residents recognise us when we come’ and they say ‘it’s that impression of belonging to a place’.
It’s a wealth that maybe doesn’t exist elsewhere.
That’s why people come here, they feel at home.”
Thematics
