Memo from J-P
For this page of oldquimper.com, we give the floor to Jean-Pierre, who serves as the CFO (Chief Feline Officer) of The Meadows Collection. Appointed to that position in 2007, he has gamely agreed to attempt the daunting task of taking over the duties previously fulfilled by the late, but ever-present-in-our-hearts, Porquier-Beau...whose image continues to grace the upper left corner of this link.
Jean-Pierre is eleven-years old, which translates to sixty in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate.
It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:
Greetings to all.
First a little bit about my background.
Jean-Pierre is eleven-years old, which translates to sixty in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate.
It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:
Greetings to all.
First a little bit about my background.
|
I was born in Paris and am thoroughly français despite paperwork that lists me as being a chat de la fôret norvégienne (Norwegian Forest Cat). My full name is Châtelain Jean-Pierre. Châtelain because being born in 2007... December 21, 2007 to be precise...means that in accordance with French regulations, my name must begin with the letter 'c'. Those born in 2008 have names that begin with a 'd', those born in 2009 have names beginning with the letter 'e' and so on.
Châtelain is a French term from the Middle Ages used to distinguish the seigneur or lord of the manor. We live in Quimper now, so it's more like lord of the apartment...but the important part is that I rule the roost, so to speak. Jean is in reference to Jean-Baptiste Bousquet who settled in Quimper in 1699 and Pierre is in honor of his son, Pierre Bousquet, who in 1708 founded Quimper's first modern -day pottery factory. |
Every once in a while I like to put the spotlight on a specific topic…it might be an unusual example of Quimper pottery or perhaps a further look at a place or structure…something that I feel will further your enjoyment of French faïence.
And then again, sometimes I take this opportunity to share with you some of our adventures in Quimper...because one of the results of being so gob-smacked enamored of Quimper pottery has led to the inevitable and now we live in Quimper...right in the middle of Old Town!
I'm an indoor cat, but I do see a lot from our windows and the folks are always up for an adventure. Here's a quick rundown of what we were up to last month...it will give you a bit of a taste of the sights and sounds of living in Quimper!
The folks took an afternoon stroll along the Steir...one of the rivers that intersect in Quimper...and witnessed a bit of "fowl" play. Actually, it was more of a drama, as a not-too-bright mother duck led her tasty looking chicks way too close to a waterfall that would have swept them off to the Atlantic. Fortunately, two level-headed drakes managed to quack them to safety.
And I have to say, for people living without an automobile, my folks certainly enjoyed a whole bunch of excursions last month...
One venture was to Île-Tudy...to partake of a special festival with the theme of Louisiana.
One venture was to Île-Tudy...to partake of a special festival with the theme of Louisiana.
The event was an activity supported by the organization called Si la mer monte...French for "if the sea rises". It's a group dedicated to increasing public awareness of the need to preserve and protect the sea. It's a serious subject, but they included entertainment in the program. Conferences relating the situation in New Orleans before and after the effects of Katrina were interposed with Cajun music...actually it was more like Texas-style music, but Mom and Dad danced along anyway.
It was a zero-garbage event; no disposable plates, cutlery or glasses allowed...before placing their order at the food tent, visitors washed and dried the necessary dishes and cutlery. Decorations along the streets featured recycled materials and papiêr maché alligators wearing the traditional coiffe of the Bigoudèn region.
It was a zero-garbage event; no disposable plates, cutlery or glasses allowed...before placing their order at the food tent, visitors washed and dried the necessary dishes and cutlery. Decorations along the streets featured recycled materials and papiêr maché alligators wearing the traditional coiffe of the Bigoudèn region.
Île-Tudy has less than 800 inhabitants, but their spirit belies the town's small size...and everywhere you look there are captivating sights...
...a weathervane in the form of a petite bretonne and the flag of Brittany....
...a Quimper figure of Sainte Marie set within a niche above a cottage door...
...and, of course, the spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean...
The U.S. Navy had a base in Ïle-Tudy during World War I; it was closed in 1918 and today, the shores of the peninsula...it's no longer an island...seem far removed from such unfortunate conflicts.
Gardening was the theme of the next outing...a visit to an open house at the horticulture school in Plomelin.
There were lots of plants to take home...
On another day, a hike in the countryside around Concarneau brought them to the Château de Keriolet...
One of a pair of matching pillars that mark the entrance to the grounds of the Château de Keriolet.
Originating from the 13th Century, the château was extensively remodeled in the 19th Century. The architect in charge was Joseph Bigot, who was also responsible for a number of important restorations in Quimper,...City Hall, the Préfecture and the steeples of the Cathedrale Saint Corentin to name just a few.
The remodeling was done at the behest of a Russian Imperial Princess. The aunt of Tsar Nicolas II, Princess Zénaïde Narischkine Youssoupoff married a commoner thirty years her junior and they would enjoy the results of the renovation until her husband's death in 1889. In later years, through inheritance, the owner of the Château de Keriolet was the great-grandson of one of Rasputin's assassins.
Speaking of the cathedral in Quimper, strolling past it after visiting an exhibit at the Maison du Patrimoine, they snapped this photo of a wedding celebration...
...and the exhibit? Beginning in 1857, Quimper regularly organized cavalcades, dances and festivals as a means to raise funds for the less fortunate. The first cavalcade to be officially photographed took place in 1899 and the exhibit featured a number of the images from the municipal archives that had been taken during that event.
One photo showed Place Saint-Corentin in 1899...in the background is the Hôtel de Lion D'Or...today that building houses the Art de Cornouaille...a store that is quite well known to Quimper pottery collectors.
The view from the entrance of the Maison du Patrimoine where the exhibit took place.
June 21 can mean only one thing...Fête de la Musique. Since 1982, the 21st of June...the longest day of the year...is celebrated with music. All types of music, in all types of venues, all day and all night and all free. Mom snapped this quick photo of a troupe of drummers setting up just below our living room.
Then the two of them left to go out and check out the joyful scene that was going on all over town. They did not return until the wee hours. Thank goodness for double pane windows or my nap time would have been seriously impacted !
A couple of days later, they left me home again...this time to go off on a boat. Dad is notorious for getting seasick, but the lure of the Île de Batz was too great.
And the island is only a fifteen minute boat ride from Roscoff, so he managed to survive.
Back on dry land and immediately greeted by an artistic statement on the rocks along the embarcadero, he was soon ready for further explorations of the island.
Although it is relatively northern, the jet stream provides the island with a temperate climate. Crops are grown year-round and lush plants and colorful gardens are practically the norm.
Built in the 1870s on the ruins of an earlier chapel, Notre Dame du Bon Secours...
...serves as the parish church and has many interesting features. Arguably the most unusual is an ancient tapestry stole...
...here's a detail image...said to have been worn by Saint Paul Aurelian...one of the seven original founders of Brittany.
After returning to the mainland, they visited the Château de Kerjean near Saint Vougay.
They had been there in the past, but couldn't resist seeing it again. Built in the 16th Century to serve as a fortified mansion for one of Brittany's powerful Renaissance-era families, the château houses a remarkable collection of early Breton furniture and a well-equipped kitchen...
That's a decorative glaze in the poêle...not left-over spinach !
As you can see, a whole lot of fun has been happening here and from the looks of it, there's much more to come.
Note: This is our July/August issue, so I won't write to you again until September...but I'll have much to tell. I wish you a delightful summer and hope that Brittany will be on your itinerary. There are several excellent exhibitions and while I do my best, there is nothing like being here and seeing them in person !
Note: This is our July/August issue, so I won't write to you again until September...but I'll have much to tell. I wish you a delightful summer and hope that Brittany will be on your itinerary. There are several excellent exhibitions and while I do my best, there is nothing like being here and seeing them in person !
This season's exhibition at the Musée de la Faïence features a breathtaking display of Quimper pottery with motifs inspired by the traditional embroidery patterns used on early Breton costumes...lots of vintage embroidery on display as well.
At the Manoir de Kerazan...
At the Manoir de Kerazan...
...a special exhibit of Qumper pottery decorated with motifs of animals of the sky and the land...pigs, birds, horses, goats, etc...all in Quimper pottery and all from private collections !
And Impressionist paintings invade Quimper...so many that the exhibition is shared between the Musée des Beaux-Arts and the Musée Départemental Breton...
That's my memo for this month; I hope you enjoy my sharing of our adventures in Quimper!