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.
Slight interruption...just as I took over The Town, The People and The Pottery section of the website this month, "Mom" is going to take over this page because she wants to take the opportunity to remind collectors to be extra vigilant when shopping "anonymously" or from an unknown source.
She recently received an email from an American couple who wrote that they were downsizing and consequently, after collecting Quimper pottery for 40 years, they were going to be selling their pieces on eBay. They explained that they were sending the message to a number of collectors and dealers and that unless a recipient "opted-out", they intended to send notifications when the pieces were posted on eBay. The message invited comments and included photographs of their most "prized" pieces.
A delicate situation because a large round plate that they had displayed front and center appeared to be one of the fakes that "Mom" had written about in a previous issue of www.oldquimper.com.
A delicate situation because a large round plate that they had displayed front and center appeared to be one of the fakes that "Mom" had written about in a previous issue of www.oldquimper.com.
Perhaps she should have ignored the message, but they did ask for comments and in the hopes of not having this "bad apple" be passed on to infect the collection of another, she wrote back and informed them of her concerns as gently as possible.
Not an isolated experience and normally she receives a response...usually something on the order of "I was afraid of that"; "My friend thought the same thing"; "The price did seem perhaps too good to be true", etc.
Now, we all make mistakes...a purchase made in haste, or in the dark, or from someone or someplace that was a bit too easy. But the situation is compounded when the mistake is not acknowledged and the item continues to be described as authentic.
Unfortunately, it looks like this couple is going to attempt to pass off their mistake.
So to help you make knowledgeable buying decisions:
Now, we all make mistakes...a purchase made in haste, or in the dark, or from someone or someplace that was a bit too easy. But the situation is compounded when the mistake is not acknowledged and the item continues to be described as authentic.
Unfortunately, it looks like this couple is going to attempt to pass off their mistake.
So to help you make knowledgeable buying decisions:
A repeat warning...
This photo was taken at a brocante fair in Concarneau last month...two identical, signed "Porquier-Beau" jardinières...absolutely identical because the decoration is made using decals...they are not hand-painted...nor are they even faïence for that matter...and each only 25 euros.
They are fake...not Quimper pottery...produced intentionally to deceive and not worth 25 centimes!