For centuries, art pottery and fine porcelain pieces have been a European speciality, whether it's a Gouda or Delft vase from the Netherlands, a Meissen figure from Germany, or a colorful Majolica platter from Italy. During the Art Deco period, Czechoslovakian artists produced brightly colored pitchers and bowls decorated in geometric and floral designs. Austrian sculptor Walter Bosse got his start making whimsical ceramic objects before moving on to bronzes, while tin-glazed earthenware known as faience continues to be a source of pride for French ceramists.