An important group of French faience factories, the first was founded in 1588 by the brothers Augustin, Baptiste and Dominique Conrade from Albisola in partnership with Jules Gambin an Italian potter who had worked in Lyons. In 1603 the Conrade brothers obtained a monopoly for thirty years. Their products are strongly italianate. Though still run mainly by Italians or men of Italian extraction the potteries adopted more characteristically French styles in the mid 17th century. But a more potent influence came from the East.