Gien

Gien creates unique and artistic dinnerware

Known for its high quality faience and outstanding artistic creativity, Gien is a top-selling company in France and internationally. Its earthenware is renowned for being unique.

The festive Toscana recalls tangled multicolored scrolls and is a favorite of collectors. The blue and white Oiseau Bleu features hand-painted pieces decorated with fruits and flowers. Sologne depicts the game of the rural Sologne region. The lush and colorful Millefleurs is patterned after English gardens. Pont Aux Choux is a architectural-inspired pattern with traditional shapes, while black and white gives Tulipes Noires a modern graphic quality.

Gien offers serving pieces and oven-to-table baking dishes to complement the dinnerware patterns. European Tableware is an authorized dealer of Gien and is happy to take special orders.

The Gien Story

Gien (pronounced ZHEE-ehn) was founded in 1821 by Thomas Hall, an Englishman who wanted to introduce fine English earthenware manufacturing techniques to France. Production first began with functional tableware, then went on to make fancier dinnerware, decorative pieces and tableware emblazoned with notable families' coats of arms. Gien has produced exceptional pieces, which it presented at the colorful Universal Exhibitions from 1855 to 1900.

The Gien Faience Factory has mastered the techniques of hand painting, hand printing using engraved copper plates, serigraph printing and chromolithography (also called transfers). Earthenware interpretations of Rouen styles, Dutch blue patterns from Delft, Italian majolica, Marseille rosebuds and others are the pride and honor of Gien.

Today, durable Gien earthenware is without any doubt the most prestigious French manufacturer of earthenware. Its product lines are highly unique and distinguish themselves from other pottery with rich, refined and varied shapes and styles. Its fame comes from flawless know-how, and from striving to blend craftsmanship and industrial processes, bringing tradition and creativity together.