Pique assiette

Pique Assiette is a form of art similar to mosaic but specifically uses broken plates and the like arranged in patterns or designs. The name comes from the French "pique-assiette", meaning "one who eats from others' plates". It is often pronounced IPA|, but more proper is the French pronunciation IPAlink|pikasjɛt. Pique assiette is a style of mosaic that incorporates pieces of broken ceramics—plates, dishes, cups, tiles—and other found objects into the design. The appeal and expressiveness of pique assiette lies in the ideas of lateral thinking, humour, recycling, and the significance of the found objects.

This form of art is believed to have been originally introduced by Raymond Edouard Isadore, known as the "father of French pique assiette". He discovered his bits of colored glass and pottery in the fields surrounding his house in Chartres, outside of Paris, and spent his life covering every surface of the inside and outside of the house and his garden area. He supplemented his shards with stuff from auctions, quarries and the public dump. His home is a popular tourist attraction and is known as "Maison Picassiette".

References

*"Making Bits and Pieces Mosaics" by Marlene Hurley Marshall
*"Mosaics" by Kaffe Fassett & Candace Bahouth