Idole

DALO – Daniel Dereck (1974) & Loïc de Bailliencourt (1971)

Since 2007, Daniel Dereck and Loïc de Bailliencourt have formed the ceramic duo DALO, creating unique works entirely “four-handed” in their studio, now based in Rouen, Normandy.

Coming from diverse backgrounds, Dereck trained in ecological sciences and Bailliencourt in musicology and archival studies. Their journey into ceramics began in 2003. Guided by mentors such as Margareth Leveneur, Augusto Tozzola, Thierry Fouquet, and Christophe Bonnard, they mastered modeling, wheel-throwing, and glazing, with a particular passion for stoneware glazes inspired by Daniel de Montmollin. Encounters with the Cloutier brothers further shaped their artistic path, leading to a full reconversion into ceramics by 2005.

Their work draws inspiration from the French ceramics tradition of the 1950s–80s, echoing figures like Georges Jouve, Pol Chambost, and Jean & Robert Cloutier. Among their most recognizable creations are the Idol vases, whose stylized, ancient-yet-modern faces recall prehistoric idols while speaking to contemporary sensibilities.

Exploring multiple techniques such as wheel-throwing, slab-building, coiling, and innovative combinations, the duo continuously experiments with textures, colors, and glazes across earthenware and stoneware. Their pieces are often figurative, poetic, and calming, playing with references to both nature and 20th-century decorative arts.

Today, DALO’s emblematic style has captivated collectors and leading architectural studios worldwide, including commissions from Peter Marino and Philippe Starck.