If I mention French porcelain, you envision pink flowers on a traditional Country French plate. Revol Porcelaine is NOT that French porcelain. Google the phrase “French porcelain” and you’ll find several companies selling examples of said plates. Revol France has its headquarters in Saint-Uze, where the Revol brothers started their business and created Revol porcelain in 1789, during the French Revolution. Revol USA is located in Alpharetta, GA. Very few companies on the planet are thriving after 225 years, let alone still owned by the founding family, but Revol is. They’ve outlasted governments. What makes a business so enduring?
Joseph-Marie and Francois Revol noticed white streaked kaolin deposits on the ground after a storm. The discovery led them to build a stronger line of cookware. First and fore-most, innovation means longevity. In its eleventh generation, the company pursues the same path of making dishes better than they were made before. Olivier Passot took the reins from his father Bertrand in June, 2007 and continues the tradition of ingenuity. Revol’s white porcelain pieces were originally built to be restaurant ware. They don’t absorb liquid, oil, odor or bacteria, so they’re completely hygienic. They’ve been baked at 1320 C (2408 F), so extreme temperatures aren’t a concern, and neither is chipping or scratching. The line goes from freezer, to oven or microwave, to table, and then to the dishwasher. One dish contains the meal from the time it’s made until the time it’s consumed. Now you’re imagining a 200 year old company making dishware that’s nearly invulnerable, so you’re not seeing those flowered plates, but are you picturing the sort of dish you might find in an archaeological dig? That’s your second misconception.
The Grande Classiques Collection’s classic white favorites are still available, but they’re a more modern traditional style, complimenting both classic and contemporary dining venues. The Eclipse line of bakeware stylish and long-lasting. The warmth of its reds combined with the elegance of its blacks would be beautiful and fitting in either Italian or Asian restaurants. Basalt is an interesting collection made of porcelain slate. Revol describes the look as “noble and natural”. The risks associated with natural slate, scratching and chipping, are avoided with this rugged line which lends itself to serving everything from appetizers to desserts. Solid & Likid Collection, with modern art forms, DOES look like a museum exhibit, but not the one that’s 200 years old. Upscale and cutting edge, it transforms even simple meals into elegant dining.
Revol Porcelaine is a stellar example of “old meets new” with a level of integrity designed to endure like the company itself. Vive la France!
