Founded in 1908, the unusual name of ceramics brand Robj is an anagram of the founder’s, Jean Born. Initially Robj offered cigarette lighters and incense burners before pivoting to design items, executed in a humourous Art Deco style.
Comprising figurines modelled into objects including bottles, bookends and cocktail shakers, Robj developed a name for producing whimsical and amusing items which epitomised the jazz age. The company did not produce the items themselves but rather contracted out the work to ceramic manufacturers including Villeroy & Boch and Limoges; these were items of the highest quality.
Born died in a car accident in 1922 and was succeeded by Lucien Willemetz, whose impact transformed the fortunes of the company. Exhibiting at the 1925 Expo des Arts Déco in Paris, Robj won a bronze medal, an event which led to a peak in popularity for their items in the late 1920’s and into the 1930’s. Liquor bottles and distinctive cracked glazed tobacco jars are designs particularly associated with this period. Trading ceased in 1931 and to this day Robj pieces remain highly sought after by collectors.
Illustrated: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
