ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2, 2026—A new collection catalogue at the Saint Louis Art Museum focuses on the experimental European art pottery movement from around the turn of the 20th century and introduces a major 2023 gift of more than 150 works from New York-based collector Martin Eidelberg.
“European Ceramics Circa 1900: The Eidelberg Collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum” traces the movement’s development, offering a detailed view of modern ceramics across six regions—France, Germany, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Austria and Italy. The greatest concentration in the Eidelberg gift is works by French makers, reflecting the origins of the movement in France in the 1870s. The catalogue includes ceramics by well-known figures such as Ernest Chaplet, Émile Decoeur and Pierre-Adrien Dalpayrat, alongside works by many lesser-known or rarely collected artists, including Atelier de Glatigny, Henri-Léon Robalbhen and Nils de Barck.
“The comprehensive gift by Dr. Eidelberg positions the museum with one of the leading collections of European art pottery in the country, offering a far more nuanced view of the movement than is typical for an American institution,” said David Conradsen, the Grace L. Brumbaugh and Richard E. Brumbaugh Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the Saint Louis Art Museum. “It complements singular works acquired by the museum over the last century, adding depth in areas already represented in the collection, such as French and German ceramics, and addresses complete gaps in a number of nationalities.”
The book is edited by Conradsen and features short essays—coauthored by Eidelberg and scholar Jonathan Clancy—introducing each geographical section. Individual works are catalogued by Conradsen and expanded upon with entries by Eidelberg, who is professor emeritus of art history at Rutgers University and has published widely on 18th-century painting and on arts and crafts ceramics and the art of Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Illustrated with 257 photos throughout, the 216-page volume also includes a ceramic-marks reference section. “European Ceramics Circa 1900: The Eidelberg Collection at the Saint Louis Art Museum” is available for purchase online and in the museum’s shops.
Works from the Eidelberg collection will be featured in a future exhibition organized by the museum and curated by Conradsen.
CONTACT: Molly Morris, 314.655.5250, [email protected]
