French Free Form Surrealist Black Ceramic Dishes By Peter Orlando, 1960s

Free form Ceramic plates/dish or plaques by Peter and Denise Orlando, France 1960s. Glazed in black with abstract and geometric decoration engraved and over-glazed in shiny terracotta and light blue. Heavy ceramic characteristic of the work of D & P ORLANDO. Signature ORL at the bottom of the dish. American by birth, Peter Orlando (1953-2009) married a Parisian woman whom he met during his posting as a soldier in France in WW2. Denise was also to be a collaborator with him on his artistic journey. Trained at the Beaux Arts in Paris and at the Sevres workshops he went on to open his own atelier in Paris where he produced ceramics from 1952-68 subsequently moving solely into painting. Orlando (or "Orla") ceramics are very distinctive and he was able to create his own style, which with a fine arts background, must surely have been directly influenced by his surroundings. The Surrealist movement in Paris with Breton at the helm and Miro, Dali and Tanguy also present on occasion, are discernable on both the form and decoration of the plates and vessels he was ceating. Dali's melting landscapes and Miro's insect like abstractions are especially evident. Measures: 26X29X2cm 26X30X2cm.