‘Revol: founded in 1789, year of the Revolution’ – he suspected that was just too convenient to be true. And he was proven right by the unearthing of the wedding contract between Pierre Revol and Madeleine Carrier, both of whom come from ceramics families in the region. It was their marriage in 1768 that heralded the beginning of the firm… His appetite whetted, Passot set up a heritage department to document the history of the factory’s production, as well as carrying out in-depth research into the evolution of the brand.
The factory cellar is a true treasure chest: for 250 years, Drôme gold or kaolin has been the basis of the thousands of pieces of porcelain that are stored here. Burying themselves in its shelves, the Claudes hunt (task to tell the factory’s story), unearth, document and painstakingly sort items of porcelain and historic moulds.
Taken down from the shelves, the vases, jugs and other historic vessels brought with them a wealth of anecdotes. Considered in their context, each helped to shed light on the fascinating evolution of a small-scale Drôme industry. From historic orders for iconic firms such as Ricard pitchers to the first in-house designs and products for the finest kitchens, via the different ceramic materials developed through the ages: Revol’s history shows a clear trend towards a strong identity of its own, underpinned by an insistence on quality.
A brand that is now noted for its forward-thinking design and innovation demonstrates how important it is to know one’s roots in order to lead the way.
