The word umbrella comes from the Latin umbra meaning “shaded”. The French term is much more succinct…parapluie…meaning ”for the rain”. The Breton word for umbrella is equally pragmatic…disglavier…originating from their term for rain, which is glav or glaveier depending upon the particular dialect. In Brittany that’s what an umbrella is for…to provide protection from the rain, not to protect from the sun…for that you would need a disheolier.
Whatever the term, to have an umbrella in nineteenth century rural Brittany was an important status symbol…the petite bretonnes in particular were justifiably proud of their chic and practical store-bought accessory.
The Quimper potters looked to the daily comings and goings of the community for inspiration and, thus, it was only natural that umbrellas found their way into their designs…
both as a form…
…in this case, an HB wall pocket in the shape of an umbrella…
and in the decorative motifs…
…this HB plate features a petite bretonne with her trusty umbrella…
…and this HB vase has a similar scene…just different costumes…the woman on the plate wears the traditional costume of someone from the Fouesnantaise commune and the petite bretonne on the vase is from Quimper.
During the 1920s, the HB factory produced a line of items that celebrated some of the other regions of France.
It actually rains more in Nice in the south of France than it does in Quimper and, perhaps to counteract Brittany’s reputation for being rain-soaked, some of the pieces in the Provinces Françaises series depict umbrella-toting paysans from other regions …
Here’s a gentleman from Auvergne…
…and representing Normandy, a lovely petite normande…
…both clutching their umbrellas as they head off to market..
Their umbrellas all seem to be neatly furled, but mine is soon going to be opened and put to good use…as a soft November rain has just begun to fall.
Looking at the calendar, I would be remiss if I didn’t make note of today being the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S., so I’ll close with an umbrella-related Celtic blessing…
May you always have walls for the wind…
A roof for the rain…
Time for a drink by the fire…
Laughter to cheer you…
Those you love near you…
And all that your heart may desire.
Adela, I love this blog, I was recently discussing umbrellas on an auction and one does see their share of them on Quimper ware, and no wonder, there is quite a bit of rain in Brittany I'm sure. I am with Cerelle in being in admiration of all your knowledge of Celtic lore, language, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn the south of France, the umbrellas are used more for the sun, aren't they? One sees them so often in photos with the Arlesiennes.
Another most intersting blog, look forward to the next.
Have a great Thanksgiving, wherever you and yours are today.