Saturday 22 October 2011

A Witchy - Halloween Sunday Favourites Rerun.


Chari @Happy to Design graciously offers us each week the opportunity of reprising a blog written weeks, months or in some cases years ago.
This allows new visitors to our blog to discover even more about the QCI.
This week a post created by Sarah (Hyacinths For The Soul) for Halloween 2010.



It's October and soon to be time for witches in the air.

19th Century Quimper Plate Marked HB Only
Photo Courtesy of Lucy Williams

Some may think that Quimper faience was painted only to depict the familiar Breton folk, but take a look above at this 19th century plate from HB. Not only is the shape of this plate unusual and charming, it is painted with the whimsy of a gaggle of witches on broomstick flying across the sky.


19th Century Quimper Plate Marked HB Quimper
Photo Courtesy of Lucy Williams
This plate is thought to depict the
infamous witch in the
story of Hansel and Gretel.

I find the vivid colors and the interesting border to be perfect for the Autumn season.


19th Century French Faience Plate
Photo Courtesy of Maggie @ Normandy Life

I don't have specific information to share on this plate.
It was an auction item some years ago at a French Auction.


Detail of 19th Century French Faience Plate
Photo Courtesy of Maggie @ Normandy Life

It's a perfect plate for Halloween with its flying bats, a witch on broomstick, and a winged devil.


Faïencerie d'Art Breton Witch Plates
Photo Courtesy of Brittany Byways

As you can see, witches on Quimper pottery go back to HB production at the end of the 19th century. The two charmers above are plates currently produced by Faïencerie d'Art Breton
 and feature witches from the era of the original HB production of these plates.

10" Faïencerie d'Art Breton Witch Plate With Jack-O-Lantern Border
Photo Courtesy of Brittany Byways
The plates are scalloped, and the decor is on a white background
 that is not as blue as it looks in these photos.

10" Faïencerie d'Art Breton Witch Plate With Ghost Border
Photo Courtesy of Brittany Byways

Each is pierced for hanging,
but wouldn't they be fun for a special Halloween tablescape?

Linking Sarah's wonderful Witchy post also
 to Seasonal Sundays # 71 
with The Tablescaper

Happy Halloween!

6 comments:

  1. Traveling to Quimper in October several years ago I remember all the window displays with the witch themed faience. I have not seen them anywhere since. I love the ghost and jack-o-lantern boarders.

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  2. Fun for me to see this post again. Thanks for sharing it, Maggie! I'm going to pull out the plates this week so we can eat with a theme. ;-)
    Happy Halloween! ~ sarah

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  3. How wonderful! I love Quimper. Happy Seasonal Sunday (and Halloween)!

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  4. Maggie, thank you for your kind words about my blog! I am fascinated with your blog as I have been reading some older posts of yours today and have been royally entertained! You have such a flair for writing and your photographs are so artistic and wonderful, too! I am thrilled to meet you through blog world and hope to grow a friendship. My 13 year old grandson traveled to France with a USA People to People group and he was impressed with your area of the country. In fact, after going to the beach at Normandy and seeing where the great battle took place, he told me that he will never be the same.....he became a man that day. I must tell you that he scooped up a handful of sacred sand on the beach and gifted his 95 year old Great Grandfather when he returned home. The jar of sacred sand is on display in my dad's home in a place of honor.

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  5. Hi Maggie...

    Ohh my...what a fun post, my friend! I would have never guessed that Quimper hosted such patterns befitting halloween. I love the plate in the first photo of the gaggle of witches riding their brooms! Truly a unique shape...I like it! I also thought the plates with the ghost and pumpkin borders were pretty too! This was such an interesting post! Sarah did a wonderful job with it! Thank you, Maggie...for sharing it with us for the Sunday Favorites party this week...it was a real treat!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

    PS...I have to tell you that I spent quite some time sharing your home blog with my husband on Saturday! I wanted to show him all that you and your husband have done on remodeling that beautiful home of yours. He was fascinated and enjoyed your photos!

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  6. What a fun post! I love that first flying witches plate. All of them have such wonderful borders. Oh, I need to have a lot of money! laurie

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