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.

Parrots In Arizona......by Cerélle

Parrots in Arizona ?
Yes, we really do have parrots...

There are two native varieties, very scarce, to be found in Southern Arizona. The Coppery-tailed Trogon is a summer resident of far southern Arizona, and lucky the person who has seen him. Even more rare is the Thick-billed Parrot, who has been found in southeast Arizona. They have tried to reintroduce more of them, but with only limited success due to the large number of resident hawks.

And surprisingly, we here in our neighborhood have some fascinating little squeaky-voiced, colorful guys who have been around for at least twenty years now, and have naturalized quite happily. Some years back, a small private zoo with an aviary caught fire and the only way the firemen could save these birds, was to release them. Lucky for them, lucky for US!


So now, we have these wonderful peach-faced lovebirds who come to the feeder and live in the palm trees and have new fledglings each year. It is delightful to see the "peachies", sometimes in a flock of up to twenty, all in the little tree which holds the feeders. When the sun hits their feathers, it is just breathtaking! We even had a turquoise and white parakeet who joined this flock for a couple of years..and must have been quite well accepted as we can surely identify the offspring who show this whitish head, turquoise-green body coloration in certain members of the flock. Here is a Peachy on the birdbath.


Another visitor we had for at least four years was a wonderful big chartreuse parrot which I finally identified via a web site on parrots. Upon writing to the site with a description and then a photo, she was identified as a ring necked parakeet...a BIG parakeet - about 17 inches long, and as this one did not have the "ring", she was a female. In reading about her, I found that though originally from India and Pakistan, there is a large population of them who were escaped birds and have now naturalized in Bakersfield, California. I wonder if this one blew over here in a storm..as have some brown pelicans from time to time, or if she got away from someone here.


"Our" parrot was a joy to see and became a regular guest at the seed feeder. About two years ago, a new neighbor who was evidently ignorant of the fact that "Greenie" slept in the large hole in their date palm, cut it down and so we no longer have our wonderful guest! I hope she found another good place and is still flourishing. Sure miss seeing her, though.

So it is with pleasure that I add parrots to my collection, whenever I can find them. Among my favorite pieces are these Desvres parrots. They are large, fully 10 inches tall (25 cm) and with great colors and glass eyes.


I also have a charming little parrot which I have been hoping to identify...only 5.75 in (14.5 cm) high and finely painted and detailed. Anyone know this mark? Perhaps it is German?




This HB quimper covered jar sits on my kitchen window sill and is a source of great delight. It has survived in fine condition..lid too, and the colors and the repeating pattern of floral designs with the featured parrot is a favorite of mine.



Then there are parrots on plates and platters and cache pots and wall fonts..and all of the wonderful items with the Rouen designs which I love so well. I think that I can never get quite enough of these. I love the cornucopia, the carnations, and best of all the parrots. These could have been made in Desvres, in Quimper, in Sinceny, or perhaps if old enough, in Rouen itself.




Not too long ago I happened upon a great big soupiere WITH platter on eBay..and fell for it immediately! It was heavy, and perhaps that scared off the competition as I won it easily. I am crazy about the way it is painted, and just discovered it in the book, French Faïence, by Jeanne Giacomotti. It was identified as Sinceny..even perhaps Rouen, as evidently they were so alike.




The date is set at 1760..Oh MY! As you see, it not only has the carnations and rocailles but lots of little parrots, too!


Another piece which is special to me, is a parrot plate which has been identified by one of our club experts as being early Quimper in the Nevers style. I just love the colors in this, and the free-hand flourish in the painting.


I guess that whether a living-free parrot, or a parrot captured in clay and paint, they just bring a lift to my heart!

My Dream Doll House........by Carolyn H

I have been asked to write a new blog on an article that was featured in the Autumn/Winter Quimper Club Journal on miniature Quimper.
Some of you will remember it but for those of you who missed it, I hope you find it informative and entertaining.
This all started two Decembers ago, when my dear husband bought me a doll house for our anniversary. He had spotted it in a Hospice Thrift Shop in High Springs, FL and surprised me with it!
My dream of someday, owning a doll house had finally come true! Granted, it took a while----some sixty odd years----But dreams DO come true!! And there it was; my childhood rediscovered.

This was no ordinary doll house. It was a marvellous creation consisting of seven rooms in Victorian style.
The scale of the house is 1:12, or 1 inch is equal to 1 foot.
It had just enough furniture and accessories to perk my artistic imagination and personal taste. Over the last year and a half many changes have taken place. To date no room has gone untouched.
I've painted miniature scenes that now hang in the living room and library, made and painted furniture, etc. All the fun stuff!

My greatest joy has come from redecorating the kitchen. I gave the house "indoor plumbing" by adding a pitcher pump that I made from Fimo clay to the existing dry sink. I filled glass canning jars with clay fruit and vegetables that now sit on a newly made shelf overhanging a new prep table.

A drying rack that I made with the wood from a tongue depressor and cotton bud sticks now hangs over the fireplace from which handmade herbs, onion and garlic braids are also hung. My latest creation was to add a real flickering "fire" to the fireplace.

The existing cupboard looked dismal with it's out of scale accessories.
Something had to be done! Why not Quimper? That had to be the right direction to go with since my "other house" was already filled with my overflowing collection of Quimper.

I decided on the happy color of "Soleil" decor. I located some white mini dishes and a soup tureen at a miniatures shop in Orlando. The fish platter, I made, using a two part epoxy putty that I also use for ceramics' restoration. I spray painted them yellow with lacquer acrylics; then, using a 20/0 brush, I painted on the design with water-based acrylics. A clear coat followed to protect and simulate the shine of fired glaze.
With a few other additions, my cupboard is now complete.
My doll house is a work in progress! Many pieces have been added and moved around since it was first received and It brings me a great deal of pleasure to watch it's metamorphosis! I can highly recommend it as therapy-----At any age!

I will be glad to answer any questions you might have on trying your hand at painting your own Quimper "mini" dishes, or on any other subject that you might be interested in.
Leave a comment by clicking below, or I may be reached through this blog by emailing quimperpix@gmail.com.

BET YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST ONE.....

...Collection, That Is........by Cerelle

I don't know what it is, but one collection seems to lead into another. Sometimes one sees something quite different from your avowed collection but it just calls to you, perhaps because it would look so nice with what you do collect.

I think of the frames we saw at Twila and Ted's house which showcased special pieces of their Quimper faience. Now there is a collection to continue.



Perhaps the item has a similar theme or motif, and one just cannot resist adding it to display together. Another collection I have, small by necessity, is terre verniseé. I have only a few pieces, but they are large ones and that has to keep me limited. These grand pots with the fabulous runs of glaze just give me goose bumps, and they are so very French, so I had to have a few.


Then there is the possibility that you are a Francophile, and like to include other items which add to the ambiance of France in your home. I felt this influence in the homes we visited in Dallas recently. Each had its own distinct personality, but each one felt French in many ways, and I would feel at home in any one of them.

This is not to say that I am French, or even can testify to what constitutes French decor, but I know what I like, and much of it includes French furniture and fabrics, and French faience of course. LOTS of French faïence.






I have several accidental collections. One which I have found has the advantage of being small and easily stored is hand fans.



A friend who lives in the Medieval town of Cordes-sur-Ciel in the region of the Tarn, showed me her collection of fans, and told me about the different styles and shapes and the dates they were made.. She told me about the materials used, and how to care for them.












These beautiful fans and their history intrigued me, and then when I returned to Arizona, I discovered that a couple of my friends here collected them too. So it was easy enough to join the club, and now I belong not only to the Quimper Club International, but FANA (Fan Association of North America) and our local division, the Southwest Connection.

























I have also accumulated what can only be called a collection of Santons. This collection just sort of grew and before I knew it there was a huge extended family of little French folks in nineteenth century dress living in my display cabinets. I prefer ones made by particular santon makers, and the earlier ones by Simone Jouglas are my favorites. The two Arlesiennes in the story of the Camargue are by her and they are rather dear to me, as I saw them as my mother and me, (though she looked much better than that even at almost 102).



Soon many of them will make their annual pilgrimage to gather around the crêche under the Christmas tree representing all the vocations of the townsfolk as they pay homage to the Baby Jesus.








Santons, if well made, fit the criteria of my collections. Beauty or character, history, fine hand craftsmanship, and something of French culture.

























I have thought about why I collect fans,
and it seems not so different.
I like them for their beauty, their place in time, their craftsmanship,
the hand painting or hand carved mother-of-pearl or ivory,
the handmade lace.


Why do I love faience? I love it for the beauty, the history, the fascinating stories they tell,and especially for the hand painting...about which I am very particular. So, I suppose, the reasons are really much the same.




There are many reasons to collect, but primary for me is the admiration of hand craftsmanship and individual artistry. In this era of mass production, and some of it pretty poor, it is a joy to see an item where the finest efforts have resulted in such beauty.

I feel ownership is a privilege, but also a stewardship. It is my pleasure to enjoy them in my lifetime, but also my responsibility to protect these one of a kind items for future generations. I look at them and wonder, who was the person who painted this? What was life like for them? I so much wish we knew the names of these artists. Some, we can know, but so many are just unknown.
I see that much of what I collect from French furniture to the collections listed bring to mind the 19th or even the 18th centuries.. Life was not better then, and in many ways was much harder..but I sometimes think that I may have been there...or at least, that is what my friends declare.

"You must have been French in a former life" they say. Oh, of course not, but still....

....sometimes...
Some interesting web sites you might like to visit for more info on fans and santons:
http://www.jaunesetvertes.com/Intro101607.swf
http://www.fanassociation.org/links.htm
http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/museums/musee-santon/provence-santons.htm
http://www.wendytroupe.com/2007/11/french-santons-cest-bientt-nol.html
http://santonsprovence.com/en/historique.htm