The Revol manufacture has been based in the Drôme department since its creation in 1768. For nine generations, the culinary porcelain company has been led by the same family – the Revols, then the Bourgonnes, followed by the Loïres, and finally the Passots – whose origins trace back to the 17th century.
The Revol family has been made up of manufacturers, traders, merchants, and master faience makers from father to son. While genealogy places this family in the north of Drôme, archaeology demonstrates its regional roots extending to the city of Lyon. There, Pierre Revol's family (1742-1785) established faience workshops during the 18th century, where he was trained in the craft.
At the age of 26, Pierre moved to the northern Drôme, to Ponsas, to marry Magdeleine Carrier (1748-1833), who herself came from a long line of faience makers. Together, they established their first workshop in Ponsas in 1768. The soil in the Drôme des Collines region is particularly favorable for working with clay: it contains high-quality clays and sands, but most importantly, kaolin deposits, which allow the creation of more durable pieces.
Thus, Pierre and Magdeleine Revol are the founders of the company, established in 1768, which they named Revol, a name that each of their descendants has continued. Despite the change of surname with the introduction of sons-in-law Bourgogne and Passot into the Revol lineage, all the leaders have maintained a strong sense of family tradition, dedicated to the craft and the company.
The history of taste and consumption, along with changing trends, have influenced the production of specific pieces at each era.
However, the REVOL manufacture has always maintained a dual production of custom markets (bottles for alcohol and decorative items) and culinary tableware for the art of dining.
Convinced that history is a wonderful source of inspiration for building the future, and aware of the rarity of its heritage, the REVOL manufacture created a "Historical Heritage" department in 2011.
This department's goal is to preserve, study, and showcase the collections of the REVOL manufacture. These collections are housed at the heart of the factory, in the former earth cellars.
They include 25,000 ceramic pieces, with the oldest dating back to around 1800, 8,000 plaster molds made and stored in the factory since 1903, 4 kilometers of handwritten or iconographic archives, 2,000 graphic art pieces such as models and sketches, and various industrial tools that testify to the company’s production.
The REVOL manufacture is a member of the international association of the Hénokiens, which brings together family-owned and bicentennial companies. For its strong ties to the region and the exceptional nature of its craftsmanship, the REVOL manufacture has been awarded the "Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant" label since 2012.
Through the promotion of the history of the REVOL manufacture, the REVOL historical heritage department aims to share the story of French industry, creativity, tastes, customs, and consumption patterns with a wider audience.