1509?-1589

French potter, glass-painter, and writer who pioneered lead-based, enameled ceramics called majolica and popularized a rustic form of ceramic art featuring coiled snakes, scaly fish, and slinking lizards set in high relief and painted as found in nature. Around 1548, after many years of chemical experimentation, Palissy, an avid naturalist, discovered the secret of producing Italian majolica, which he combined with his interest in nature to create a unique style of ceramic art that remained popular for over 400 years.