Shop in Your Slippers
On these pages, we feature a small portion of our extensive inventory of vintage Quimper pottery. We stand behind our pieces and guarantee each to be as described. Your satisfaction is protected with a certificate of authenticity and a three-day return policy. We accept payment by check, PayPal, money order; debit and credit cards are processed via PayPal...plus we are famous for our slow, painless lay-a-ways. Where you decide how much you want to pay and when...no payment is too small and no time frame is too long! Quimper pottery is one-of-a-kind art...if the right piece comes along just when you need new tires, we understand...believe me, there's nothing worse than us having to answer "No, I'm sorry" to "Do you still have...?"
The prices shown do not include shipping; we ship via USPS and all items are carefully packaged by our in-house, maniacal Virgo...double-boxed with extra packing material , etc.
If you have any questions, please remember that we're just an email away! Just contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Ready?
Slippers on?
Let's go shopping!
The prices shown do not include shipping; we ship via USPS and all items are carefully packaged by our in-house, maniacal Virgo...double-boxed with extra packing material , etc.
If you have any questions, please remember that we're just an email away! Just contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Ready?
Slippers on?
Let's go shopping!
Early 19th Century Cul Noir Calotte
Dating from 1840 or thereabouts, this calotte or shallow bowl has an à la touche geometric motif in tin-glazed faïence on the front side, while the reverse is covered in a manganese glaze. The original development of this process is attributed to Paul Caussy of Rouen. We can't decide for sure just where this piece originated...it was attributed to Quimper, however the glaze has a pink tinge and the clay is quite red...very reminiscent of Malicorne production. Decorated examples of cul noir, meaning black bottom, are too few and far between for us to be able to say for sure just where it originated. But we can say for sure that it is a great piece of vintage Country French faïence!
It measures 9.5 inches in diameter and is 1.675 inches high.
It is unsigned; the incised x on the reverse may have been an identifying mark used for pieces fired in community kilns...it's a mystery!
Condition is fantastic considering age and the fact that these wares were designed for everyday use...no restorations or hairlines; just the customary crazing and some chips along the edges as you can see in the photograph.
It measures 9.5 inches in diameter and is 1.675 inches high.
It is unsigned; the incised x on the reverse may have been an identifying mark used for pieces fired in community kilns...it's a mystery!
Condition is fantastic considering age and the fact that these wares were designed for everyday use...no restorations or hairlines; just the customary crazing and some chips along the edges as you can see in the photograph.
Priced at $ 95. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
"Quimper" Pattern Tablecloth...Cotton...70" Round
I'm still cleaning out the linen closet...and was thrilled to came across this cotton tablecloth...brand new, never even been unfolded! It's French, 70" in diameter and 100% cotton.
Four dancers dressed in various traditional costumes join hands to form the center of the top portion...against a blue background accented with traditional Breton motifs. More dancers encircle the bottom, set apart by borders composed of "rings" of stylized golden hearts, colorful fish and à la touche floral sprays.
A delightful accent to any table!
Four dancers dressed in various traditional costumes join hands to form the center of the top portion...against a blue background accented with traditional Breton motifs. More dancers encircle the bottom, set apart by borders composed of "rings" of stylized golden hearts, colorful fish and à la touche floral sprays.
A delightful accent to any table!
Priced at $ 40. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
"Quimper" Pattern Tablecloth...Coated Cotton...63 "Round
Red wine with your meal? This Quimper patterned tablecloth has a unique protective surface! Made in France by Nydel, it will add a special touch of casual elegance to your décor---and make any meal a festive occasion. Cheerful and ready to provide the perfect accent, it is also stain and spill proof. The Nydel firm recently ended production after 35 years of being famous for their special process tablecloths...100% cotton fabric in distinctive patterns that is treated on one side with a special coating. The result is truly special...Not as heavy as oilcloth so that it drapes beautifully, yet spills just wipe up with a sponge or it can even go in the washing machine! Wrinkles? Just iron on the non-coated side!
160cm in diameter...just shy of 63 inches, providing a half-drop for round tables up to 36 inches in diameter. Add a contrasting under cloth to bring out the color of your choice...all the Quimper colors are there...red, green, yellow, blue and black.
160cm in diameter...just shy of 63 inches, providing a half-drop for round tables up to 36 inches in diameter. Add a contrasting under cloth to bring out the color of your choice...all the Quimper colors are there...red, green, yellow, blue and black.
Still in its original packaging...it is brand new, never out of the package. I scanned the package with the tablecloth still folded inside and that's why you are seeing a double pattern. That is not the case when it is open and spread on the table. Note that the plastic bag was opened by US customs when I brought it back from France, but it is absolutely brand new and never even been unfolded!
Priced at $ 45. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
HB Quimper Roi Gradlon Coupe à Pied...René Quillivic Footed Dish with King Gradlon, Dahut and Morvarc'h
This decorative coupe is perfect for adding a bit of Celtic excitement and Quimper history to any décor!
The interior has a rich, multi-toned green glaze that serves as a perfect complement to the three-dimensional design on the sides. Throw in a handle in the form of a horse's head and some bright gold accents and there you have it...a piece worthy of René Quillivic!
The interior has a rich, multi-toned green glaze that serves as a perfect complement to the three-dimensional design on the sides. Throw in a handle in the form of a horse's head and some bright gold accents and there you have it...a piece worthy of René Quillivic!
Quillivic (1879-1969) was an accomplished sculptor, ceramics designer, and a sort of muse for the HB factory from the 1920s until 1962 when he last utilized the private art studio that had been set up for him in the attic of the pottery.
The piece measures 8 inches wide and is 3.5 inches high including the handle (2.875 inches high not including the handle), and 4.3125 inches deep.
Popular in the period just after the end of World War II when this piece was made, the use of a gold glaze required an additional step and was, thus, reserved for more expensive examples...i.e. pieces of art pottery rather than tablewares. One characteristic of the gold glaze...in addition to it being more expensive...is that it was also more fragile...putting the condition of this example in the magnificent category!
The coupe is marked on the bottom as shown below:
The piece measures 8 inches wide and is 3.5 inches high including the handle (2.875 inches high not including the handle), and 4.3125 inches deep.
Popular in the period just after the end of World War II when this piece was made, the use of a gold glaze required an additional step and was, thus, reserved for more expensive examples...i.e. pieces of art pottery rather than tablewares. One characteristic of the gold glaze...in addition to it being more expensive...is that it was also more fragile...putting the condition of this example in the magnificent category!
The coupe is marked on the bottom as shown below:
Priced at $ 125. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Henriot Quimper Biniou-form Bell
Measuring 3.6875 inches high, 3.125 inches wide, and 2 inches deep, its biniou shape celebrates the rich heritage of Brittany. It is decorated on all sides...a petit breton on one and a petite bretonne on the other! Colorful floral sprays add further accent. It has been rung many times to announce many things...as you can see in the photographs, there is glaze loss to all four corners of the bow and the bottom edges of the pipes...but no chips, cracks, or dings!
It dates from circa 1925 and inside the bell is the mark of the Henriot factory...
It dates from circa 1925 and inside the bell is the mark of the Henriot factory...
Priced at $ 45. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Henriot Petite Normande Box
The decoration on this charming Quimper box is wonderful...a very attractive young lady from Normandy in her Sunday-best costume posing demurely with her hands in her pockets as she stands between a couple of pine trees. A straight, deep cobalt blue band and a wavy, golden-orange band accent both the lid and the base...which rests on four little "feet".
Measuring 4.125 inches by 4.125 inches and 2.5 inches high, it is in mint condition with one speck of kiln dust caught in the background glaze near her right shoulder. It was made in the more demanding process known as over-glaze and is a wonderful example of vintage Qumper faïence.
Unsigned, it is Henriot from the era of 1925-1930...unmistakably vintage Henriot...you have our word...as we provide a written guarantee.
Measuring 4.125 inches by 4.125 inches and 2.5 inches high, it is in mint condition with one speck of kiln dust caught in the background glaze near her right shoulder. It was made in the more demanding process known as over-glaze and is a wonderful example of vintage Qumper faïence.
Unsigned, it is Henriot from the era of 1925-1930...unmistakably vintage Henriot...you have our word...as we provide a written guarantee.
Priced at $ 45. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Malicorne Faïence Figure of Notre Dame du Chêne...Emile Tessier
This figure by the Emile Tessier pottery in Malicorne depicts Notre Dame du Chêne...Our Lady of the Oak Tree. It dates from circa 1930, but commemorates an event that happened centuries ago in the village of Vion...west of Malicorne.In the fifteenth century, it was customary for the shepherds of the area to end their day by gathering around a particular oak tree for a moment of prayer. They were attracted to that specific spot by the doves that fluttered around the trees and a special quality of light that seemed to highlight the crown of one particular tree. Eventually, a local priest placed a statue of the Virgin and Child in the crook of its main branches and soon the faithful shepherds were placing flowers by the statue.
In 1494, a young man tried to take some of the flower offerings and not only could he not do so, but he was immediately stricken with a stiff neck. Passersby took him and the statue into the local church...where he was just as suddenly cured...but meanwhile the statue disappeared...only to be found back in its niche in the oak tree. Word spread so that whenever a shepherd was ill or injured, he would be brought to the church along with the statue, and would be immediately cured while once again, the statue would mysteriously find its way back to the niche in the oak tree. A chapel was built on the spot in 1515...replaced by the current Basilica de Notre Dame du Chêne in the 1860s. In addition to crinks in the neck, prayers to Notre Dame du Chêne are said to offer protection from storms.
The figure is 8.75 inches high, 2.875 inches wide, and 2.75 inches deep. It's in excellent condition...just two small chips...more like nibbles...to the back of the base.
It is signed on the bottom with the factory mark for Emile Tessier of Malicorne. The Tessier factory opened in 1926 and ended with the death of Emile Tessier in 1971. Born in Malicorne in 1887, prior to opening his own faïencerie, Tessier worked for Léon Pouplard at the latter's Faïencerie du Plat d'Etain...beginning when Tessier was just thirteen years old.
Click on the photographs below for a larger view:
In 1494, a young man tried to take some of the flower offerings and not only could he not do so, but he was immediately stricken with a stiff neck. Passersby took him and the statue into the local church...where he was just as suddenly cured...but meanwhile the statue disappeared...only to be found back in its niche in the oak tree. Word spread so that whenever a shepherd was ill or injured, he would be brought to the church along with the statue, and would be immediately cured while once again, the statue would mysteriously find its way back to the niche in the oak tree. A chapel was built on the spot in 1515...replaced by the current Basilica de Notre Dame du Chêne in the 1860s. In addition to crinks in the neck, prayers to Notre Dame du Chêne are said to offer protection from storms.
The figure is 8.75 inches high, 2.875 inches wide, and 2.75 inches deep. It's in excellent condition...just two small chips...more like nibbles...to the back of the base.
It is signed on the bottom with the factory mark for Emile Tessier of Malicorne. The Tessier factory opened in 1926 and ended with the death of Emile Tessier in 1971. Born in Malicorne in 1887, prior to opening his own faïencerie, Tessier worked for Léon Pouplard at the latter's Faïencerie du Plat d'Etain...beginning when Tessier was just thirteen years old.
Click on the photographs below for a larger view:
Priced at $ 225. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Original 1840s-era François Hippolyte Lalaisse Lithographs from Galerie Armoricaine
We have three rare and wonderful original lithographs from François Hippolyte Lalaisse's Galerie Armoricaine. They are available individually: Homme & Femme de Cancale depicts a couple from the famous oyster producing village of Cancale; Jeune Fille de Loudéac features a petite bretonne and a young boy dressed in the costumes of Loudéac; Laitière de Douarnenez, depicts a milkmaid from Douarnenez also with a young boy.
They are original lithographed plates that formed the Galerie Armoricaine, vues pittoresques de la Bretagne...published by Charpentier in 1848. Based in Nantes, Charpentier was one of Brittany's largest publishing houses. Lalaisse (1810-1884) had never been to Brittany and had previously concentrated his talents on drawing horses and military men, but in the 1840s, he was hired by Charpentier to document Breton costumes and customs. He made two trips beginning in 1843 and saw his meticulous artwork published using the then new process of lithography.
Each measures 15"high by 10.675 inches wide with an image size of 9" by 6.625". They are part of the original art folio which consisted of a separate sheet for each costume design and are not later images cut from a book. They are in excellent condition considering their age. Cancale and Loudéac have minimal foxing outside the image, while Douarnenez does have two areas of foxing within the outlined border. It also has the embossed printers' mark ( bottom center) in the photograph, further proof of authenticity.
They are original lithographed plates that formed the Galerie Armoricaine, vues pittoresques de la Bretagne...published by Charpentier in 1848. Based in Nantes, Charpentier was one of Brittany's largest publishing houses. Lalaisse (1810-1884) had never been to Brittany and had previously concentrated his talents on drawing horses and military men, but in the 1840s, he was hired by Charpentier to document Breton costumes and customs. He made two trips beginning in 1843 and saw his meticulous artwork published using the then new process of lithography.
Each measures 15"high by 10.675 inches wide with an image size of 9" by 6.625". They are part of the original art folio which consisted of a separate sheet for each costume design and are not later images cut from a book. They are in excellent condition considering their age. Cancale and Loudéac have minimal foxing outside the image, while Douarnenez does have two areas of foxing within the outlined border. It also has the embossed printers' mark ( bottom center) in the photograph, further proof of authenticity.
The costumes of Cancale.
The costume of Loudéac.
Priced at $ 65 . each plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Spectacular 21 Inch Henriot Winged Dragon Jardinière
A spectacular jardinière...made circa 1925 at the Henriot pottery factory in Quimper. At that time the factory had three separate studios of artists...responsible for creating items in three separate levels of intricacy...ordinaire, demi-fantasie, and fantasie. This elaborate jardinière was painted in the latter, top-level studio...a studio that produced pieces that are noted as being décor-riche. It is indeed a wonderful fantasie...with one side having a central motif of a charming family scene...
and the other side just as gorgeous with a beautiful botanical motif. Both scenes are dramatically framed within the blue on yellow swirls of an arabesque background that is itself bordered with a deep blue on lighter blue arabesque design.
It measures 21 inches across from wing tip to wing tip, 8 inches high, and 8.375 inches deep. It is signed HenRiot Quimper within the scene of the Breton family in the countryside and HenRiot Quimper 11 on the bottom.
The "11" was included to credit the individual artisan who was responsible for the actual decoration of the piece...in this case, we think he or she deserved a pay raise...don't you?
I believe that both of the creatures have had some restoration...an excellent job that is not easy to detect even upon very, very close examination, and there is a chip to one wing and a bit of a touch-up here and there to some rough areas. Nothing out of the ordinary for a piece of this age and form and nothing to diminish its spectacular impact!
The "11" was included to credit the individual artisan who was responsible for the actual decoration of the piece...in this case, we think he or she deserved a pay raise...don't you?
I believe that both of the creatures have had some restoration...an excellent job that is not easy to detect even upon very, very close examination, and there is a chip to one wing and a bit of a touch-up here and there to some rough areas. Nothing out of the ordinary for a piece of this age and form and nothing to diminish its spectacular impact!
A Fantastic Porquier-Beau Fountain and Basin...complete with its original oak wall mount!
In the Breton language, this set would be called a feunteun ha gwalc'houer, but fountain and basin is much easier to type. Back in the days when there was no indoor plumbing and thus no running water, every "modern" house had one...attached to the wall and filled regularly with water from the well. A simple turn of the robinet or tap produced the water, with any excess captured in the lower basin portion.
Most examples were simple and utilitarian, but this set obviously came from a prominent household...rather than a rustic stoneware...it's Porquier-Beau faïence!
The scenes are beautiful...Alfred Beau motifs...Mariés de Trégunc on the fountain and Environs en Quimper on the basin.
The measurements are as impressive as the décor: the fountain portion is 19.25 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches deep including the spigot...the basin is 13.75 inches wide, 6.25 inches high, and 9.675 inches deep.
The carved oak wall mount is original and shows the set off to perfection...when displayed on the mount, the entire ensemble measures 46.5 inches high, 16.5 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Incredibly impressive, this Porquier-Beau fountain and basin is destined to be a crown jewel to any collection of Quimper pottery!
The measurements are as impressive as the décor: the fountain portion is 19.25 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 8 inches deep including the spigot...the basin is 13.75 inches wide, 6.25 inches high, and 9.675 inches deep.
The carved oak wall mount is original and shows the set off to perfection...when displayed on the mount, the entire ensemble measures 46.5 inches high, 16.5 inches wide and 10 inches deep. Incredibly impressive, this Porquier-Beau fountain and basin is destined to be a crown jewel to any collection of Quimper pottery!
Condition is good...There is one chip on the edge of the basin as well as several glaze skips to the edges of basin and one on the shell surrounding the robinet...however, those are skips which are typical in pieces of this age...they are not chips. Both the basin and the lid have been professionally restored at some point in their long history...the restoration on the interior portion of the basin has "yellowed" a bit, but as you can see, appearance is excellent! Both the fountain and the basin are marked with the entwined P and B with a serif, allowing us to date them precisely as being from 1894 to 1903.
Priced at $ 3800., plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Mathurin Méheut...Original Folio Prints from the 1911 Études d'Animaux Portfolio
These half-tone chromolithograph plates were part of a portfolio of art by Mathurin Méheut published in Paris in 1911 by the Librairie Centrale des Beaux-Arts. The complete set consisted of a hundred fine half-tone chromolithograph plates of animals from the land and sea that had been mounted with wide borders on thick board. They were published unbound as an art portfolio and were one happy result of Méheut's research at the marine biology center in Roscoff.
We have three different prints available...crawfish, crab and shrimp.
..this one is a study of écrevisse or crawfish...
Each image has his signature in the lower right...two "m"s entwined...this was Méheut's artistic signature up until 1920.
Méheut's Roscoff adventure began in 1910 and lasted two years. He had accepted the task as part of a commitment to the French magazine Art et Décoration...initially for a series of three scientific articles. Immersed in his research, his stay in Roscoff would instead result in thousands of individual studies, 400 watercolors, 200 drawings and 100 paintings. The Études d'Animaux portfolio was the first of Méheut's art folio publications and obviously served as inspiration for his work at Henriot.
They are available individually and would look fantastic displayed with any of Méheut's Service la Mer pieces. Each image measures 12.5 inches high by 9.375 inches wide. Each is displayed with the original mat...they were matted onto folio board that bears the name of the project and each matted print measures 17.25 inches high by 13.3125 inches wide.
Condition is great; there is some slight discoloration to the edges of the mats as you can see in the photos, but no foxing and all of the images are in excellent condition. The shrimp study is a slightly different color than the other two. They are available individually so you can pick your favorite fruit-de-mer!
Priced at $ 25. each, plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
We have three different prints available...crawfish, crab and shrimp.
..this one is a study of écrevisse or crawfish...
Each image has his signature in the lower right...two "m"s entwined...this was Méheut's artistic signature up until 1920.
Méheut's Roscoff adventure began in 1910 and lasted two years. He had accepted the task as part of a commitment to the French magazine Art et Décoration...initially for a series of three scientific articles. Immersed in his research, his stay in Roscoff would instead result in thousands of individual studies, 400 watercolors, 200 drawings and 100 paintings. The Études d'Animaux portfolio was the first of Méheut's art folio publications and obviously served as inspiration for his work at Henriot.
They are available individually and would look fantastic displayed with any of Méheut's Service la Mer pieces. Each image measures 12.5 inches high by 9.375 inches wide. Each is displayed with the original mat...they were matted onto folio board that bears the name of the project and each matted print measures 17.25 inches high by 13.3125 inches wide.
Condition is great; there is some slight discoloration to the edges of the mats as you can see in the photos, but no foxing and all of the images are in excellent condition. The shrimp study is a slightly different color than the other two. They are available individually so you can pick your favorite fruit-de-mer!
Priced at $ 25. each, plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Decorative Pyrography Pieces by Paul Fouillen
We're excited to offer you not one, but two different examples of Paul Fouillen pyrography decorated wooden objects:
Our first example is described in old catalogs as a powder box, but it could hold small amounts of just about anything...someone suggested that it was perhaps used for snuff, but it will certainly hold the odd handful of paper clips or push pins and would be a great ring box...although it is definitely decorative on its own.
Paul Fouillen's initial dabbling in pyrography...the art of burning a decorative motif into a wooden object...dates from 1926 when he was still working at the HB pottery. The craft of pyrography actually dates from ancient times, but the equipment and style of decoration Fouillen employed is indicative of when it became a very popular craft during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. His range of wooden pieces include decorative furniture, plates, platters, serving trays, glove boxes, powder boxes and just about anything else made of wood. Fouillen's work was an immediate success and soon had its imitators. Fouillen wisely registered his trademark for his wood pieces in 1927 and 1928 and the box is signed on the front and on the bottom:
Paul Fouillen's initial dabbling in pyrography...the art of burning a decorative motif into a wooden object...dates from 1926 when he was still working at the HB pottery. The craft of pyrography actually dates from ancient times, but the equipment and style of decoration Fouillen employed is indicative of when it became a very popular craft during the first quarter of the nineteenth century. His range of wooden pieces include decorative furniture, plates, platters, serving trays, glove boxes, powder boxes and just about anything else made of wood. Fouillen's work was an immediate success and soon had its imitators. Fouillen wisely registered his trademark for his wood pieces in 1927 and 1928 and the box is signed on the front and on the bottom:
There are some areas where the varnish used in the original process is checked and where small bits of paint and varnish have flaked off...
...but as you can see from this close-up view, it retains all of its unique Fouillen charm!
Priced at $ 25. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Priced at $ 25. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
The second piece is a 7 inch diameter decorative wooden plate featuring a Breton couple dressed in the traditional costumes of the town of Quimper.
The plate measures 7 inches in diameter and has a notched edge and sawtooth pattern border encircling traditionally-dressed Bretons set against a black crackled background. It does have areas of missing paint, particularly in the black border and some bloops and indentations that are original to when it was first made. This piece comes from a longtime Quimper collector and is featured on page 90 of our book, Quimper Pottery...a Guide to Origins, Styles and Values.
It is signed on the front and the back...
The plate measures 7 inches in diameter and has a notched edge and sawtooth pattern border encircling traditionally-dressed Bretons set against a black crackled background. It does have areas of missing paint, particularly in the black border and some bloops and indentations that are original to when it was first made. This piece comes from a longtime Quimper collector and is featured on page 90 of our book, Quimper Pottery...a Guide to Origins, Styles and Values.
It is signed on the front and the back...
Priced at $ 35. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Pelle à Tarte...Pie/Cake/Quiche Server by Paul Fouillen
Pie, cake and quiche are always good...but how much better will they be when served with this unusual pelle à tarte...that's French for pie server!
It was made at the Paul Fouillen pottery...a historical site in the Locmaria neighborhood of Quimper...the front door of the building still has its adorable doorbell decoration...
The building itself is located on Place Styvel and extends...
..along the Odet River. At one time a popular café/dance hall, since 1928 it has been the Paul Fouillen factory...producing various forms of decorative arts, including pyrography, furniture and, of course, ceramics. It was there that the pie server was made and painted with its colorful Celtic heart motif...
It measures 9.375 inches long, 3 inches wide and the handle is 1.5 inches high. Bake a pie and use it as it was intended or finish the pie, tie a ribbon around the handle and hang it up as a great wall decoration. It is in reasonable condition for a utilitarian item of that era...no breaks or cracks...the handle has some areas on the stripes which have been "blued-in".
(The blue glaze sometimes posed a problem and was prone to flaking. A traditional source for cobalt...used for making the blue glaze...was Germany and procuring supplies of cobalt was at times difficult depending upon the political situation between the two countries).
Accenting the central motif of the Celtic heart, the sides have a "sawtooth" shape along part of the side of the serving portion...this is accented in dark blue and golden yellow and lighter blue dots extend from the sides to the striped handle.
It is signed underneath...where the server and the handle meet..."P. Fouillen-Quimper" with the distinctive loop around the two "l"s.
(The blue glaze sometimes posed a problem and was prone to flaking. A traditional source for cobalt...used for making the blue glaze...was Germany and procuring supplies of cobalt was at times difficult depending upon the political situation between the two countries).
Accenting the central motif of the Celtic heart, the sides have a "sawtooth" shape along part of the side of the serving portion...this is accented in dark blue and golden yellow and lighter blue dots extend from the sides to the striped handle.
It is signed underneath...where the server and the handle meet..."P. Fouillen-Quimper" with the distinctive loop around the two "l"s.
Priced at $ 40. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Henriot Plate Special Commission Automobile Theme Dated June 1927
This highly unusual Quimper plate was made at the Henriot factory in June of 1927 as part of a limited series with automobile-related designs made for La Crémaillère...a Parisian publishing house. Perhaps La Crémaillère specialized in publishing motor touring books, Michelin maps, or Michelin restaurant and road guides for the traveler...that I don't know...whatever the reason for the special commission, the plate is wonderful. A rare example of a dated piece of Quimper pottery.
Some detail views:
Some detail views:
The central motif is a very sleek and elegant car captured as it zooms through the countryside. Speed is artistically implied as trees bend and dust billows. It is entitled on the front ceux qui aiment à regarder le paysage which is French for "those who like to watch the countryside".
The colors and design are fabulous; the plate measures 9.675 inches in diameter and is in excellent condition with just a few teeny-tiny chips to the back edge that don't show when the piece is displayed. The reverse of the plate is signed and dedicated on the back as shown in the photo above.
The colors and design are fabulous; the plate measures 9.675 inches in diameter and is in excellent condition with just a few teeny-tiny chips to the back edge that don't show when the piece is displayed. The reverse of the plate is signed and dedicated on the back as shown in the photo above.
Priced at $ 1400. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Vintage Paper Dolls...Mariannick and Les Korrigans
This is a wonderful sheet of vintage paper dolls; the original and uncut sheet represents a young petite bretonne...Mariannick...and a group of rascal korrigans cavorting around the menhir and dolmen. The sheet is not dated, but appears to be from around the 1920s or 30s. It were published in Brittany by Editions Jelp of Nantes. The graphics are great and the uncut sheet would be superb framed on a wall...or think how much fun it would be to cut them out and display them among a grouping of Quimper pottery! I love the look on the faces of the korrigans. Interestingly enough, Mariannick comes with the front and back of the costume of Quimperlé but she has two coiffes...Quimperlé's and the coiffe of Pont-L'Abbé!
The legend on the top of the sheet reads Mariannick s'est attardée dans la lande bretonne et a grand peur car les korrigans ont commencé leur ronde au clair de lune autour des menhirs et des dolmens...meaning "Mariannick stayed behind in the Breton moors and has great fear because the korrigans have begun their moonlight dance around the menhirs and dolmen."
The sheet measures 17.5 inches by 10.875 inches and is in excellent condition.
The legend on the top of the sheet reads Mariannick s'est attardée dans la lande bretonne et a grand peur car les korrigans ont commencé leur ronde au clair de lune autour des menhirs et des dolmens...meaning "Mariannick stayed behind in the Breton moors and has great fear because the korrigans have begun their moonlight dance around the menhirs and dolmen."
The sheet measures 17.5 inches by 10.875 inches and is in excellent condition.
Priced at $ 15. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
HB Quimper Serving Plate --René Olichon Motif
This unusual cake plate features a cheerful nautical motif designed by René Olichon (1912-1969).
And in true "Quimper is hand-painted" fashion, the design was painted a wee bit off kilter from the traditional predictable sense where the handles are precisely and evenly at each side. It displays perfectly on a plate stand or with a plate hanger and quite frankly, I think that this aspect just adds to its individuality and charm!
And in true "Quimper is hand-painted" fashion, the design was painted a wee bit off kilter from the traditional predictable sense where the handles are precisely and evenly at each side. It displays perfectly on a plate stand or with a plate hanger and quite frankly, I think that this aspect just adds to its individuality and charm!
The motif of the boat setting sail with the rays of the sun as a backdrop is fabulous! René Olichon was an artist and photographer thought to have been a friend of Louis Bolloré who was the partner of Jules Verlingue in the 1920s and eventually served as the Director of the HB factory when Verlingue left in 1932. Using the pseudonym of ROL, Olichon created several designs for both HB's Odetta line and for décors on faïence.
The plate measures 11.6875 inches in diameter from handle to handle and 10.6875 inches in diameter from top to bottom. It is 1.5 inches high...the handles curve up a bit to measure 1.75 inches high.
Appearance is perfect...it has two itty-bitty, almost ridiculous to mention, dings to the edge and on the backside, it looks like there were a couple of small chips repaired. None of this shows in the least from the front. There are two small glaze pops, one in the sail and one in the outer border and a little speck of kiln dust right around "six o'clock" on the edge of the yellow circle around the central motif.
It's signed on the back...HB Quimper 307 with one of the "morse-code" signatures...
The plate measures 11.6875 inches in diameter from handle to handle and 10.6875 inches in diameter from top to bottom. It is 1.5 inches high...the handles curve up a bit to measure 1.75 inches high.
Appearance is perfect...it has two itty-bitty, almost ridiculous to mention, dings to the edge and on the backside, it looks like there were a couple of small chips repaired. None of this shows in the least from the front. There are two small glaze pops, one in the sail and one in the outer border and a little speck of kiln dust right around "six o'clock" on the edge of the yellow circle around the central motif.
It's signed on the back...HB Quimper 307 with one of the "morse-code" signatures...
Circa 1930...a wonderful example of the work of "the artists between the wars".
Priced at $145. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Priced at $145. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Elegant Porquier-Beau Rouen-Inspired Jardinière
Whether filled with flowers and set in the center of the table, on a sideboard or displayed on a shelf, this is an outstanding Porquier-Beau jardinière that is sure to impress. One side is painted with a charming scène bretonne...
...an uncommonly found scene of a lovely couple from Quimper strolling along behind a man with a cane and a bombarde player...one of the rituals of a Breton marriage where the newlyweds traditionally go from village tavern to village tavern...and dance before the celebrating patrons. It is expertly painted...the detail of the village in the background is stunning.
The other side...
The other side...
...features an elegant double crest...that of the Duchy of Brittany and on the right, the crest of the town of Quimper...
...all set within beautiful Rouen-inspired floral motifs...
It measures a generous 16 inches wide, 5 inches high, and 8.25 inches deep.
The edges of three of the feet have some minor dings that have been "blued-in", but as you can see, the appearance is excellent.
It dates from 1894 to 1903 and has the entwined P and B mark with a serif...
The edges of three of the feet have some minor dings that have been "blued-in", but as you can see, the appearance is excellent.
It dates from 1894 to 1903 and has the entwined P and B mark with a serif...
One of those gorgeous pieces that works from all angles, the handles on each side are formed from a clever twist of clay...
On its own or filled with fruit, flowers or topiaries, it's sure to be an elegant addition to your setting.
Priced at $985. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Priced at $985. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Adorable Quimper Fleur-de-Lis Form Petit Vase
This adorable vase is in the form of a fleur-de-lis. "Adorable" being "realtor-speak" for not big enough to hold your shoes...this vase, while just 3.5 inches tall, is ample size for a small bouquet...just like the one the petite bretonne is holding.
Computers have a way of making small items look big and larger items look dinky...this vase is 3.5 inches high, 3.375 inches wide, and 2 inches deep.
Unsigned, we absolutely guarantee it to be vintage Quimper faïence...dating from circa 1925...the glaze colors and style of painting being much more accurate indicators of origin and era of production than any signature!
The other side...
Unsigned, we absolutely guarantee it to be vintage Quimper faïence...dating from circa 1925...the glaze colors and style of painting being much more accurate indicators of origin and era of production than any signature!
The other side...
...has a generous spray of flowers with the colors of the fleur-de-lis reversed...where on one side there is glorious cobalt blue...the reverse has the famous golden-yellow of the Breton ajoncs...and vice versa.
The base is decorated all around with a matching border design...
The lid is signed HB Quimper within the design and the underneath of the base is signed HB Quimper 501bis (indicating the form), with +.+ for the artist's "signature".
One tip of the top rim of the vase has been restored...not a great job as you can see in the photo...just underneath the blue of the tip in the back of this photo is an area that is a bit too white...there must have been a chip. But it's such a delightful piece that, to me anyway, the restoration is hardly noticeable and certainly wouldn't be seen when the vase is filled with flowers.
Priced at $ 55. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Priced at $ 55. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
And finally...last, but not least...
Our Book...Quimper Pottery...a Guide to Origins, Styles and Values
Our Book...Quimper Pottery...a Guide to Origins, Styles and Values
Our book. It represents over ten years of mind-numbing research. It made my father proud and my sister jealous. This, of course, is a good thing! It was written because I'm ornery...can't be helped, it's a Celtic trait...and what was being said about Quimper pottery just did not jive with our first-hand knowledge of ceramics in general and Quimper pottery in particular. In our book, we reveal the history behind the distinctive Quimper designs and individually profile seven different Quimper pottery factories. Special focus is given to the painters and potters that created this delightful French art pottery and a virtual photo album traces its chronological development from 100 A.D. to today.
Hardbound, 224 pages, and with over 500 color photographs, it is both entertaining and informative, and was designed to truly function as a guide to Quimper pottery's origins, styles, and values. It will greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of Quimper pottery.
We are very proud of our book, but then that's to be expected. Here's a sampling of what others have had to say:
"Votre livre plaît beaucoup"
museum curator, Quimper, France
"Marvelous...
congratulations...your book has a great success in France"
antiquaire, Paris, France
"...I find the information very well presented and did not find any errors in the facts or otherwise"
Quimper faïencerie owner, Stonington, Connecticut
"...J'ai acheté votre livre...au Musée de la Faïence...Je l'ai trouvé en tous points remarquable et je vous adresse ainsi qu'a Mark toutes mes felicitations pour ce beau travail."
Quimper faïencerie owner, Quimper, France
"...love it...beautifully written...the technical information is surprisingly readable and I know that isn't easy."
Quimper pottery collector, USA
How to get your very own autographed copy? The price is $ 50. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
Hardbound, 224 pages, and with over 500 color photographs, it is both entertaining and informative, and was designed to truly function as a guide to Quimper pottery's origins, styles, and values. It will greatly enhance your enjoyment and understanding of Quimper pottery.
We are very proud of our book, but then that's to be expected. Here's a sampling of what others have had to say:
"Votre livre plaît beaucoup"
museum curator, Quimper, France
"Marvelous...
congratulations...your book has a great success in France"
antiquaire, Paris, France
"...I find the information very well presented and did not find any errors in the facts or otherwise"
Quimper faïencerie owner, Stonington, Connecticut
"...J'ai acheté votre livre...au Musée de la Faïence...Je l'ai trouvé en tous points remarquable et je vous adresse ainsi qu'a Mark toutes mes felicitations pour ce beau travail."
Quimper faïencerie owner, Quimper, France
"...love it...beautifully written...the technical information is surprisingly readable and I know that isn't easy."
Quimper pottery collector, USA
How to get your very own autographed copy? The price is $ 50. plus shipping. To purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com.
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That's our Shop in Your Slippers selection for this issue...now all we need is your zip code/ postal code to figure out the cost of shipping...you can contact us at: oldquimper@yahoo.com