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!

Motto plates

Are you a member of the Quimper Club International, do you have a plate or plates similar to these?
Inscribed with a motto or saying?

Then the Editorial Board of the QCI Journal needs you!

A special article is planned to appear in the December issue of the Journal, featuring these interesting plates, and more photographs (and information about them) are urgently needed.

Please email journal@quimperclub.org if you can help.
Merci beaucoup,
The Ed Board.

Phillipe Lalys Limited Edition Bombard

Musical instruments in faïence are part of the grand tradition of French faïence. Artist-faïencier Philippe Lalys, former artistic director of HB-Henriot, has created a fabulous bombard (a woodwind, member of the oboe family) in pottery, whose decor reflects Philippe's affinity for the decors of Alfred Beau!

Les instruments de musique en faïence font partie de la grande tradition de la faïence française. Artiste faïencier Philippe Lalys, ancien directeur artistique de HB-Henriot a créé une bombarde merveilleuse en faïence, dont le décor montre son affinité pour les oeuvres d'Alfred Beau !

This splendid instrument measures 31cm high (about 12-1/2") and is 8cm (a little more than 3") in diameter across the opening. It features korrigans on the inside and three different talabarders around the outside. The length of the bombard is decorated in a décor riche pattern, and Breton motifs are found around the top and the bottom. The bombard is being produced in a limited edition of 12 (approximately one-month delay production time), and the price is 750 euros.

Cet instrument fait 31cm hauteur et 8cm diamètre à l'ouverture en bas. Des korrigans se trouvent à l'intérieur et trois différents talabarders jouent autour du bas. La longueur de la bombarde est décorée avec des rinceaux, et les motifs bretons se trouvent autour. La bombarde sera réalisée en édition limitée de 12 (avec un délai autour d'un mois), et le prix est 750 euros.

NOTE: The bombard will be on display at the annual meeting of the Quimper Club in Quimper next month!
A NOTER : La bombarde sera exposée à l'Assemblée Générale du Quimper Club à Quimper le mois prochain !

Click here and here to see more about this wonderful artist currently producing superb faience items in Brittany.
Many thanks to Brittany Byways for supplying the this information.

Quimper factory news.

AU REVOIR HB-HENRIOT, BONJOUR HENRIOT-QUIMPER

HB-Henriot has been sold to Jean-Pierre LeGoff, who has major plans for its restructuring and development.
In the last few weeks, the Quimper newspapers have been full of news about the future of Quimper pottery and its manufacture. The business court, which handled the receivership and sale of the business, announced the reduction of personnel from 50 to 26 people.
M. LeGoff announced immediately that his strategy included promoting the high quality of the product, continuing the tradition of hand-painted, and working with designers and artists.

At the end of July, M. LeGoff, citing a wish to modernize the image of the pottery and to associate it with the name of the city, announced the new name and mark of the Quimper pottery manufacture: Henriot-Quimper.

And this week, it was "an extraordinary day", in the words of Jean-Yves Verlingue, former CEO of the HB and then HB-Henriot manufacture, and later partner in the Faïencerie d'Art Breton (founded in 1994). The partner stockholders of the FAB gave their full support to M. LeGoff as he announced the purchase of the FAB, thereby consolidating the manufacture and the future of Quimper pottery under one management structure.

A very exciting moment in the history of Quimper pottery - we look forward to seeing what's new from Henriot-Quimper!!

 

Comme nous vous avons dit il y a un mois, HB-Henriot a été vendu à Jean-Pierre Le Goff, qui a un programme important pour sa restructuration et son développement. Depuis, les journaux quimperois ont beaucoup parlé de l'avenir de la faïence de Quimper et sa manufacture. Le Tribunal de Commerce, qui a géré le redressement judiciaire et la vente de l'entreprise, a annoncé la réduction du personnel de 50 à 26. M. LeGoff a indiqué tout de suite que sa stratégie comprend la promotion de la qualité du produit, l'importance de continuer la tradition "peint main", et un travail avec des designers.

A la fin de juillet, M. LeGoff, indiquant un souhait de moderniser l'image de la faïence et de l'associer avec le nom de la ville, a annoncé le nouveau nom et la marque de la manufacture de faïence de Quimper : Henriot-Quimper.

Et cette semaine, c'était "une journée extraordinaire", selon Jean-Yves Verlingue, ancien PDG d'HB et ensuite HB-Henriot, et après associé dans la Faïencerie d'Art Breton (fondée en 1994). Tous les associés de la FAB ont donné leur soutien complet à M. LeGoff quand il a annoncé le rachat de la FAB, dont le résultat est une consolidation de la manufacture et de l'avenir de la faïence de Quimper sous une direction.
Un moment très important dans l'histoire de la faïence de Quimper - nous attendons avec intérêt les nouveautés de Henriot-Quimper !!

Many thanks to Judy D @ Brittany Byways for this report.

Upcoming Morlaix Auction

Last week we received our advance copy of the catalogue from Dupont Commissaires Priseurs, Morlaix for their summer auction of all things Quimper.
The date: Monday 4th July.
The time: 2.00 p.m.

For more information click here to go to their website.

Quimper Shadow Shots

A trio of Normandy decor plates.

As I walked through the kitchen early one morning this week I noticed how the sun was creating this dogtooth check pattern like shadow, through the chain link fly screen, and across the three Normandy decor plates hanging on the wall next to the kitchen door.

A close up of the petite Normande.

I bought the man and woman plates as a pair from my friend Sarah during the members only sale held during the Philadelphia QCI meeting in 2008.
Check out Sarah's blog Hyacinths for the Soul (there's a link on the sidebar) to see her post about a new QCI member, Emily, which features Emilys collection and her French Hutch filled with soleil decor Quimper.

The top plate has the name of the Normandy port of "Le Havre" on the front, where it was probably sold as a holiday souvenir, and was purchased from Judy D at Brittany Byways, you'll find a link to her blog on the sidebar too.

Joining Hey Harriet for Shadow Shot Sunday #151 with this post.

Click here to see amazing shadow captures from around the globe.

Chelsea, Chocolate and Quimper.......by Gay S

For Chari's Sunday Favourites this week a post from last year which covers a few of our favourite things!

Click on the link to see some more posts at Happy To Design.

At first sight it seems unlikely for Chelsea, Chocolate and Quimper to be connected, but indeed they are – the common factor being a certain Hans Sloane.

Those of you that have visited London will probably have heard of or even been to Sloane Street, Sloane Square or Hans Crescent, all of which are named after him.

Despite having lived in London for a while I hadn’t heard of Hans Sloane until I read a book about Quimper Pottery which stated that it is believed that Alfred Beau was inspired to create his ‘botanique’ series after he had seen the decoration on a range of Chelsea porcelain known as ‘Sloanes botanicals’.









Although born in Ireland (in 1660) Hans Sloane’s father was a Scot, as a child the young Hans was interested in natural history and other ‘curiosities’ which he collected. These interests first lead him to London to further his studies and then after four years he travelled to France spending time in Montpellier and Paris. While in France he met with leading French botanists and physicians and qualified as a Doctor – all the time he was increasing his collection of plant examples and other items.

Upon Sloanes return to London he was soon elected to the Royal Society and in 1687 he became a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.
He soon became popular with the aristocracy and was asked to accompany the 2nd Earl of Arlbemarle to Jamaica, where the Earl had been appointed Governor.

Sloanes stay in Jamaica lasted just fifteen months, after which time despite Sloanes best attentions, the Duke died. However during Sloane's stay he collected many samples and wrote detailed observations concerning the flora and fauna, the life of the natives and such phenonima as earthquakes; Jamaica was new territory in this regard.
Of course there are some of us that may think that Sloanes most worthwhile observation was the affect of cocoa beans on the Jamaican natives. Sloane watched them crush the beans and make a drink from the resulting paste, and then noticed that their mood improved after drinking it. Sloane found the drink ‘nauseous’ but much more palatable when mixed with milk. He brought this recipe back to England where the mixture was first sold as a medicine, but Cadbury’s bought the recipe and manufactured chocolate using Sloanes recipe (Cadburys have recently been taken over by Kraft).

It seems that the term ‘Sloanes botanicals’ was rather a misnomer – the term was first used in a Dublin newspaper in 1758 (after Sloanes death) when an advertisement announced the importation of fine tureens decorated 'after Hans Sloanes plants'.

Sloane had been a great supporter and benefactor of the Chelsea Physic garden. The artist Ehret actually recorded the plants with paintings and engravings and these were published by Philip Miller who worked at the Physic gardens. It was actually these illustrations that inspired the Chelsea porcelain decoration, which in turn so inspired Alfred Beau.
Sloane continued with his interest in botany and collecting while at the same time working in medicine. Eventually his collection filled so much of his home that he had to employ a full time curator! Sloane was keen that his collection should remain together and on his death the collection was offered to the government for the sum of £20,000, this money was raised by holding a lottery and the Sloane collection became the foundation of the British Museum and later the Natural History Museum too.

Next time you reach for a bite of chocolate (its medicine isn't it ?) or admire a Porquier Beau plate, spare a moment to think of Hans Sloane!

Gay.

Our New Blog & Website

Please come check out the newly redesigned Quimper Club International Blog & Website, click here.

Chatou Flea Market

The biannual flea market at Chatou just west of Paris will be open from March 11 - 20th.

The Antiques Diva & Co. has written a fun post called,

"The 10 Commandments of Flea Marketing at Chatou, "

check it out here.

To quench your thirst check out this picture.

A fun read about Paris Flea Markets here.

Pictures Needed!

The Journal needs pictures of  Anne de Bretagne and Mustard Pots.  Please send to Gay via Picturesquimperclub@gmail.com.

Keraluc

A retrospection of the works of Keraluc produced from 1946 - 1965 is being held at Armel Galerie in Paimpol, France, through the end of February.  The works of approximately 6 Keraluc artists will be on display and are available for purchase. Victor Lucas, the founder of Keraluc, worked at Henriot and HB before founding this studio. The Modern works produced at Keraluc, in Quimper, were unique forms created without poncifs. The decor and original forms came from the ideas of each artist.   For more information visit the website, here.

Housekeeping

Source

As Maggie mentioned below we are in the middle of a transition.  We are actively seeking out new contributors to the blog.  If you are interested in blogging and are a member please contact the club at blog@quimperclub.org.  Or if you have photos of your collection you would like to share, a question about a piece you found, tips on travelling in France - we would love your contribution.

To check out more of this lovely home, click here.



New Year's Resolution

#1 - Rotate my collection.  I have to admit I am not very good about this.  Once I find a "comfortable" spot for something, it pretty much stays that way for a while.

#2 -  Use It!  The cute little pitcher that just sits there should be filled with syrup!

#3 - Purge.  Those pieces that have't seen the light of day since I started collecting over 15 years ago.  Who cares if I only sell that porringer for $15 on ebay when I paid $60...

#4 -  Fix.  The box filled with some broken pieces.

#5 - Share/Donate.  Contact my local library and see if they would do a Quimper display. Speak at my city's garden club and share the history of Quimper while demonstrating how to arrange flowers in Quimper vessels.

What do you have planned? Please share. I will get back to you on my progress.  I have to admit #5 will be the hardest but hopefully it will help gain new members. 

I know President Susan Cox is preparing for a speaking engagement on Quimper to an antique group.  She has also posted a letter on our club website, go check it out here.

Happy New Year!