Some Favorites in Camaïeu Blue By Sarah

Hanging French Shelf with Camïeu Blue Quimper Pottery

With the exception of a small blue willow tea set, we don't have the typical collection one thinks of for blue and white pottery. Ours is not Chinese, nor is it Delft or English. What we do have is a small group of French faïence done in the camaïeu blue technique.

Unmarked Quimper Secouette or Snuff Bottle

It's once again time for Laurie's A Few Of My Favorite Things and also Blue Monday with Smiling Sally. So it's a perfect opportunity to share a group of French faïence done in the camaïeu technique. Camaïeu is a technique where by an object is decorated in varying shades of one color. In this case blue. Pieces are often outlined or shaded in a darker shade and then accented with lighter shades of the same color family.

HB Quimper Doughnut Shaped Teapot with Missing Lid

Though beautiful examples of entire scenes painted in camïeue blue were produced, we unfortunately don't have any in our personal collection. Our pieces painted in this technique are in the fleur de lys decor, of which this doughnut shaped tea pot is a classic example. You can see the outline done in the darkest color and then the use of two lighter shades of blue. All this done on a white glaze background.

HB Quimper Porte Bouquet on Rectangular Base

HR Quimper Tri-Lobed Footed Saucer with Three Small Feet on the Base

Most of our pieces in this decor were produced by HB Quimper. The above saucer is of HR Quimper production. One can see that the decor varies little between these two faïenceries.

HB Quimper Secouette (Front on Left, Reverse on on Right)

This little secouette or snuff bottle was quite a find. Often these small pieces were not marked, but this one bears the mark of HB Quimper on the reverse seen with the ermine tail. It also retains the original cork with wire pull. It is rare to find a secouette with its original cork in place. I've not attempted to remove the cork because of fear it would pull apart, but I can shake the secouette and hear that it indeed has something inside. I suspect it is extremely aged snuff.

Pair of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dishes

with HB Quimper Heart Shaped Secouette

In Brittany one is never far from the sea, so these little scalloped shell dishes are the perfect shape to reflect a life tied to the sea. The pair shown on either side of the secouette are very delicate in feel, and they are very small in size as you can see compared to the small secouette. They are less than 3.5" x 4.5".

Reverse of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dish with Mark

The reverse side is also interesting. These little dishes sit on a rimmed base, and the mark includes a G, which I suspect is an artist signature.

HB Porte Carte

This little porte carte was made to hold a small card, perhaps to mark one's place at the table or to hold a small menu card. I have to confess that I've a passion for both porte carte forms and those of secouettes. I like the textural feel of holding these little treasures of the past in the palm of my hand. I'm particularly pleased we have this one because it is done in camïeue blue, and it is the only example in our group of camïeue blue that features a figure.

Reverse of HB Porte Carte

The reverse does feature the fleur de lys, but the feel is very different from the typical fleur de lys pattern shown in the above photos.

Unmarked Perfume Faïence Flask

This last piece doesn't qualify as a camïeue piece, but I have it displayed with the group because it seems to fit in. This is a perfume bottle, much the size and style of a secouette.

Reverse Side of Perfume Flask

You can see from the wording on this side that this was made for Guy Parfumeur. Coeur de Bretagne indicates the heart of Brittany, but perhaps this is simply a reference to this piece being a souvenir of Brittany. I've had no success tracking down any information on this parfumeur. The piece is unmarked other than the references on this side. If anyone has any ideas or knowledge of this piece, please share.

To see more faience produced with this technique click here to read Cerélle's post that featured pieces in her collection, and click here to see Melissa's beautiful collection of

camïeue blue

.

Click here to join others at Laurie's A Few Of My Favorite Things.

Visitors for Blue Monday can click here to go to Smiling Sally's for a list of other Blue Monday posts.

Barnyard Bash ~ French Style by Sarah

Paper Maché Figures from French Artist, Aude Goalet

Welcome to the French countryside for the First Barnyard Bash hosted by Happier Than a Pig in Mud.

~ Barnyard Bash French Style ~

8.5" Unmarked Manor House Plate

It's early morning at le mas, a typical french farm house.

8.75" Unmarked Soleil Plate

Le soleil rises over the hillside and . . .

11.5" HB Quimper Charger

The sound of Le coq is heard as he announces a beautiful new day at le ferme.

HB-Henriot Hen on Nest

Séance de poule is on her nest ready to provide fresh eggs for the day.

7.75" Unmarked Deep Dish Plate

One can hear the swishing sound of birds as they fly above the nearby pond, the elegant cygne noir gracefully glides across the still water.

Pair of Figurals Marked Rouen Decor Fait Main

Young Juliet and Jean Pierre are up early for their morning chores before they head off to school.

12" Malicorne Charger, Pre-Lawsuit Mark of Reversed P & B

Monsieur looks across his land with great pride as another day dawns.

Pig Bank Marked HB Quimper

Le porc can be heard snorting about the barnyard.

8.25" Plate Marked HB Quimper

While the spat of deux coqs echos through the barnyard.

Horse Figural Marked Rouen Decor Fait Main

Frisky chevaux gallop across the pasture in the morning dew.

Unmarked Desvres 3-Sided Tea Caddy

All is right in the world on this fine day.

Oil and Vinegar Server, First Mark Porquier-Beau

There is much work to be done in the fields and vegetables to be gathered from the garden.

Goat Figural Double Salt Marked Gaetan Level

La chevre helps carry the load from the fields back to the barn.

10.75" Malicorne Charger Marked PBx

There is the walk into the village for the morning market to sell some chickens and fresh eggs.

Unmarked Desvres 3-Sided Tea Caddy

And many chores for the lady of the house before days end.

Reverse Side of Oil and Vinegar Server, First Mark Porquier-Beau

Fresh water for cooking and washing is gathered from the well as Monsieur heads to the house at day's end.

Cat Figural Marked AG

Of course every ferme has un chat.

HR Quimper Jardiniere

And at the end of the week there is much singing and dancing to celebrate with a

A Barnyard Bash ~ French Style

9.5" Malicorne Plate Marked PBx

So grab a partner and dance yourself right over to Happier Than a Pig in Mud, our hostess for the First Annual Barnyard Bash. Also you are invited to join me at Hyacinths for the Soul for a Barnyard Bash ~ English Style. Hope to see you there!

Also linking this post to Laurie's A Few of My Farorite Things Saturday @ Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie. Click here to see others sharing favorite things this Saturday.

Faience and Flowers on Parade By Sarah

"Where flowers bloom, so does hope." Lady Bird Johnson

Yellow Daffodils in HenRiot Quimper Jug Flanked by Yellow Faience Roosters

It's Three or More Tuesday with Tam @ The Gypsys Corner. http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/

Join me for a flower parade of Quimper faience that QCI members have shared for this event.

HenRiot Quimper Vase with Sunflowers, Gerbers, and Purple Asters

One thing I've learned about collectors of Quimper is that many are also avid gardeners and have a shared passion for flowers. They are also a group ready to share their knowledge, be it about faience or gardening or some other topic. As I said in a previous post, I cherish the amazing circle of friends within the QCI. It is always a treat to see correspondence in my inbox from a Quimper friend. It's a double scoop of joy when that email includes an attachment with a photo of faience, especially when the faience is filled with flowers from one's garden. Double the pleasure!







Welcome to The Parade of Faience and Flowers. Won't you stay awhile and "smell the flowers."

Unusual HB Quimper Strawberry with Rose and Alstroemeria

AP Wall Pocket with Petit Breton & Onciium Orchids

AP Wall Pocket with Petit Bretonne Filled with Oncidiums, Often Called "Dancing Ladies"

HenRiot Quimper Vase Le Coq Vase Filled with Red Poppies

Tulipière Marked with Single Red P

HB Quimper Camaïeu Blue Pitchet with a Bouquet from le Jardin

HR Quimper Soupiére with Yellow and Orange Tulips

Three Lobed HB Quimper Vase Filled with Alstroemeria and Fall Asters

Unmarked AP Secouette with Golden Thryallis

Alstroemeria Bouquet

HB Quimper Vase with Decor Riche Border and Fresh Sunflowers

HB Quimper Jardiniere with a Mix of Hydrangeas and Other Spring Blooms

HR Quimper Fleur de Lys with Alstroemeria Blooms and PB Plate

Group of Wall Pockets with Blue Plumbago, Yellow Bells, and Black-eyed Susans

Double Pocket HenRiot Quimper, Pair of Singles HR Quimper

HenRiot Quimper Vase with Decor Riche Border and Filled with a Bouquet of Roses

PB Cachepot with Fern and Savigny Bébé

Casual Arrangement in HB Only Horseshoe Shaped Vase

Pink Cyclamen in HB Quimper Cachepot

FF Desvres Fleur de Lys Vase with Spring Mix of Tulips, Daffodils, Iris, & Orchids

Springtime Bouquet in HB Only Jardiniere

HB Quimper Tricorn Vase with Fall Arrangement of Dried Pods

Jardiniere with Fern and Henriette Porson Figural

Unmarked Quimper Sugar Bowl with Colorful Zinnias and Fresh Basil

HB Quimper Jardiniere Filled with a Variety of Camellias

Petit PB Vase with Yellow Gerbers

That's it for my parade. Much thanks to Barbara, Doris, Eileen, Maggie, Susan, Twila, and Victoria for sharing photos. I hope you'll leave a comment and let me know what your favorite flower is.

HB Quimper Becassine Figural Cendrier and Porte-Cigarettes

with Baskets of Fresh Blooms

Then click here to march on over to Tam's for more offerings on Three or More Tuesday.

“All the flowers of all the tomorrows are in the seeds of today." Unknown