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; returns are accepted when notified within three days of receipt. Buyer pays for return shipping. We accept payment in US dollars via PayPal or arrangements can be made for payment by US bank check or postal money order; debit and credit cards are processed via PayPal...our PayPal address is either oldquimper@yahoo.com or meadows@oldquimper.com.
For larger purchases, we are famous for our slow, painless lay-a-ways. That's 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" when someone asks "Do you still have...?"
We ship via the French postal service (La Poste) and all items are carefully packaged by our in-house, maniacal Virgo...double-boxed with extra packing material, tracking number, insured, etc. Shipping from Quimper to a US address typically takes 6 to 8 days.
If you wish to have your item shipped to a location other than the US or if you have any questions, please remember that we're just an email away! Just contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Ready?
Slippers on?
Let's go shopping!
For larger purchases, we are famous for our slow, painless lay-a-ways. That's 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" when someone asks "Do you still have...?"
We ship via the French postal service (La Poste) and all items are carefully packaged by our in-house, maniacal Virgo...double-boxed with extra packing material, tracking number, insured, etc. Shipping from Quimper to a US address typically takes 6 to 8 days.
If you wish to have your item shipped to a location other than the US or if you have any questions, please remember that we're just an email away! Just contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Ready?
Slippers on?
Let's go shopping!
Matched Pair of HR Quimper Plates with Bords Plié...Folded Edges
A delightful matched pair with a distinctive shape...
...prior to firing, the plates were shaped by hand so that the edges would gently fold toward the central decoration. The original inspiration for this form is said to have been a water lily leaf...hence it was sometimes referred to in early factory documents as une assiette nénuphar...nénuphar is the French word for water lily.
They are a matched pair...painted by the same artist...circa 1910...isn't it wonderful that they have been able to stay together for so long ? A closer look...first the petit breton:
A dashing fellow from Pont-l'Abbé as illustrated in the 1840s by Hippolyte Lalaisse.
Tall and blond, he wears his "Sunday Best" outfit as he strikes a pose amidst the colorful vegetation.
His lady-love...
...an attractive brunette, she wears the traditional costume like the one that had been worn in the village of Scaër.
She strikes a coy pose with her market basket.
Each plate measures 10 inches in diameter and is signed HR Quimper on the bottom. They are in excellent condition...both have some rough spots and glaze skips to the edges...normal for this era of production...and she has two small chips to the edge just past "12 o'clock" that do not deter in any way.
Another look to show how fabulous they are...
Sorry...Matched pair HR Quimper plates with bords pliés...folded edges is sold.
Really BIG and Vertical...16.675" by 13.125"...HR Quimper Platter
Ready to make a very large impression in any collection of Quimper pottery...this platter is unusual for its generous size. A substantial piece, it weighs 4.9824 pounds and is 16.675 inches high, 13.125 inches wide and 1.75 inches deep...
...providing a generous opportunity to show off its classic Quimper colors...glorious cobalt blues, antimony yellows, manganese blacks, copper greens and iron reds...all used to portray a Breton couple standing beneath an arbor of colorful flowers. It dates from circa 1910 and is signed on the front HR Quimper.
The border features a continuous band of à la touche flowers...
...and the foot rim is pierced for hanging.
Obviously alway treated as the treasure that it is, the platter is in mint condition...as it came out of the kiln...complete with pontil marks on the edge at 2 and 4 o'clock, bits of kiln dust and some glaze bloops and a "thumbprint" skip on the back at 5 o'clock...all normal for its size and era of production.
Sorry...Really BIG and vertical...16.675" by 13.125"...HR Quimper platter is sold.
HR Quimper Bombarde Player Plate with Floral Spray Border
A beautifully-painted piece...decorated in the center with a petit breton playing the bombarde. It measures 9.5 inches in diameter and the condition is just like when it was first made. There is a potter's tear to far left of the central motif and a couple of inconsequential bits of kiln dust.
The glaze colors are particularly rich and vibrant. He plays while standing between two exuberant floral sprays...the same floral motif that completely fills the border with a riot of color.
Looking at the back side reveals the reddish clay used during that time period...1910-1920...
...and it is signed HR Quimper on the front under the musician.
HR Quimper bombarde player plate with floral spray border is $ 145. US plus $ 30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 175. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
HB Quimper... Matched Pair of Paul Fouillen-Designed Plates
One aspect of Paul Fouillen's "assignment" while he worked at HB was to provide some modern flair to the firm's traditional motifs. Something he surely accomplished with this pair of plates.
Using only two colors...deep blue and rust-red...on a white background, Fouillen created a more modern look to the traditional image of "Bretons around the hearth". Here's a closer look at the petite bretonne plate:
She spins her wool while sitting in front of the fireplace...a large pot suspended over the fire. The pot hangs from the chimney's crèmailière...a mechanical device on a bracket or ring that is secured into the wall of a fireplace. An attachment with hooks allows handled utensils and receptacles to be suspended above the flame...making it possible to simultaneously and efficiently warm the room and cook a meal.
The plates are a matched pair...painted by the same artist; here's her mate:
He also sits facing the fire, only he's not as industrious and is depicted leisurely enjoying his pipe.
Detail view of the central motifs...
Both plates are bordered in Fouillen's update of the traditional croisillé design...
They are both signed HB Quimper on the back...
...with pernette marks consistent with their age...they were created around 1925.
They are 8.375 inches in diameter and both have what looks like a small "t" as an artist signature...
Condition-wise...both have a few typical pops and smudges and the petite bretonne has a small glaze skip on the edge around 3:30...all of that occurred when they were first made and their appearance is excellent.
Sorry...HB Quimper...matched pair of Paul Fouillen-designed plates is sold.
14.75" Wide...Gorgeous HB Quimper "222" Platter
An impressive HB Quimper platter...the form with its scalloped edge and areas of reserve in the border is identified in early factory catalogs as "222". The form was used in different ways and was painted in a variety of decorative motifs. This is a particularly attractive version...not too formal, yet a bit more sophisticated and certainly more difficult to execute with its painterly depiction of a Breton couple and the floral sprays and croisillé design accenting the border.
The handsome petit breton shows off his muscular calves with spiffy blue gaiters...he looks likes he's been working in the field and slung his garden tool over his shoulder so he could chat with the sweet petite bretonne on her way to the market with her rather large shopping basket and trusty umbrella. She looks to be hanging on his every word !
The shape of the platter is accentuated with alternating border motifs.
Circa 1925, it is in excellent condition...some skips and pops and a bit of craquelure...consistent with its age and era of production...and there is one minute flea bite to the glaze at 5 o'clock. It measures a generous 14.75 inches wide, 10.125 inches high and 1.75 inches deep.
It is signed HB Quimper on the front within the central motif and on the back, the signature is HB without the mention of Quimper, 222 to identify the form and O... to identify the artist.
The foot rim in pierced for hanging...indicating that it was always a special piece intended to be displayed with pride.
14.75" wide...gorgeous HB Quimper "222" platter is $ 185. US plus $ 40. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 225. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
HB Quimper Plate...Throughly Modern 'Georges Brisson' Design
With the ribbons on his hat floating in the breeze as he boldly stands in a field of flowers, this is a throughly modern petit breton. A colorful departure from the traditional Quimper peasant, the motif is generally accepted to be the work of Georges Brisson.
Georges Brisson (1902-1980) collaborated with the HB pottery, submitting designs from 1922/23 to 1928. During this relatively short period, he produced many striking designs...doing much to modernize HB production...in fact, he created the cover art for the 1926 factory catalog...
By 1930, Brisson had decided to forego ceramics design and devote all of his considerable talents to painting, but before that, he created this dandy Breton...
It measures 9.675 inches in diameter and dates from 1925. The background surface is crackled, there is a restoration to the border at 11 o'clock and a couple of small nibbles to the very edge...but as you can see, because of the unusual border, bright colors and striking design, the appearance is not affected in the least ! It is signed on the back...
Research by Marjatta Taburet notes that the three dot signature on the back was used by a Monsieur Cojan.
HB Quimper plate...thoroughly modern 'Georges Brisson' design is $ 145. US plus $ 30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 175. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
HR ( only ) Matched Pair of 19th Century Festonnée Form Plates
With their traditionally-costumed Bretons standing between colorful plants and surrounded by an equally colorful border decorated with floral sprays alternating with a four blue dot motif, this pair of plates were part of the beginning of Jules Henriot's adventures in faïence.
They date from the end of the 19th century when that particular Quimper pottery had just begun to produce decorative faïence...prior to that they only produced utilitarian stoneware.
And decorative they are...first a closer look at the plate with the petit breton...
An obviously distinguished gentleman, he stands holding his riding crop...
His mate is equally attractive...
...as she stands holding a red bouquet...
...like her mate, she is from the commune of Quimper...evidenced by her costume and coiffe.
The plates measure 9.375 inches in diameter...have a lightly scalloped or festonnée form. The early clay somewhat shows through the overglaze, giving a soft pink tint to the white background. Condition is remarkable...especially considering their age. There are the typical glaze pops along with some skips on the edges. The petit breton has a small chip to the backside edge and on the central motif there is a bit of crackle and a light smattering of potter's tears...
These close-up photos of the edges are deceiving because...
...as you can see from the overall photograph of this early pair of plates...none of this distracts from their attractiveness.
They are both signed on the back...HR...the mark used on the first faïence to come out of this pottery.
HR ( only ) matched pair of 19th century festonnée form plates is $225. US plus $ 40. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 265. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Keraluc Rooster Candlestick...Designed and Painted by Pierre Toulhoat
This joyful Quimper faïence candlestick is the result of the collaboration of two men who contributed greatly to the success of Quimper as an art pottery. First, Victor Lucas, who founded the Keraluc pottery, then Pierre Toulhoat ( 1923-2014 ), a multi-talented artist who designed the form in September of 1948. Toulhoat was one of the original artists to answer Lucas' call and arguably is one of the most multi-disciplined Breton artist of that era.
You can easily imagine the candlestick singing cocorico !...which is French for cock-a-doodle-doo...although, it being a thoroughly Breton rooster, it would be more fitting that it greet the sun in Breton... kotogotogog !
You can easily imagine the candlestick singing cocorico !...which is French for cock-a-doodle-doo...although, it being a thoroughly Breton rooster, it would be more fitting that it greet the sun in Breton... kotogotogog !
He looks great from all angles...
It measures 7.675 inches high, 5.125 inches wide and 3.675 inches deep at the foot rim.
Here is the original design document created by the then 25-year-old Toulhoat. It was displayed back in 1997 as part of an exhibition held in Quimper's Musée Départemental Breton: Keraluc...50 Ans de Céramique Artistique à Quimper. Toulhoat came to design for Keraluc through another early participant, Yves Dehais, with whom he had previously worked at Yves Le Bihan's famed stained glass studio. Toulhoat's design envisioned his idea for a figural rooster in several forms; on the bottom of the document, it is additionally proposed as a knife rest and it was transformed into other functions as well, as a bottle, etc.
At one point...possibly originally...don't you just wish these things could talk ?...anyway, at one point...on really close examination, it looks like this one had been a lamp and a small cut had been made in the base for the cord. That has since been restored and is almost invisible. Other than that, it is...as the French would say "impec" (short for impeccable).
It dates from the late 1940s to 1950 or so and is signed with the early mark of the Keraluc pottery...evidenced by "près Quimper". This takes note that at that time the location of the Keraluc pottery was outside the existing Quimper city limits. This changed in 1960 with the annexation of certain neighborhoods.
The early signature of Pierre Toulhoat on the bottom of the candlestick.
Keraluc rooster candlestick...designed and painted by Pierre Toulhoat is $ 225. US plus $ 30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 255. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Signed AP...Arthur Porquier...Oil and Vinegar Service
Signed AP for Arthur Porquier, this oil and vinegar cruet set has a story to tell. Pieces signed AP are as scarce as hens' teeth and we were happy to have this cruet set to use in our book on Quimper pottery to illustrate the history of the Porquier factory.
We bought the set many, many years ago here...
...in the shadow of Quimper's Cathedral at the store called L' Art de Cornouaille...a must stop for every visitor to Quimper ! It is now run by Mikael Breton who is following in the footsteps of his father, Pierre. In earlier days, Quimper pottery was only sold at an outdoor market in the square in front of the Cathedral. Mikael's grandfather, Alphonse, was the first to sell it from a store.
L' Art de Cornouaille is amazing...housed in one of Quimper's half-timbered buildings...the historian Henri Belbeoc'h notes that the building dates from the 13th Century. At one time in its past, it was an inn for travelers. Today's visitors marvel at the front plastered with Quimper plates. Not to mention all the pottery inside !
L' Art de Cornouaille is amazing...housed in one of Quimper's half-timbered buildings...the historian Henri Belbeoc'h notes that the building dates from the 13th Century. At one time in its past, it was an inn for travelers. Today's visitors marvel at the front plastered with Quimper plates. Not to mention all the pottery inside !
Pierre Breton was a character...and could come across as a little gruff and a bit frightening to timid Americans. Entering the store, the merchandise was plentiful, but new. To be invited to peruse in his not-open-to-the-public, by-invitation-only basement filled with antique Quimper pieces was an honor that was coveted, but rarely bestowed.
Somehow, decades ago, we were invited by Pierre and this cruet set was among the pieces we bought. The French have a different sensibility about condition...I guess it comes from being surrounded by so much antiquity. Add to that, the fact that the basement was very dark and we were very excited. The cruet set consists of two bottles and a holder...the lids that it came with are not the original lids...those would have been in faïence. Pierre's basement was such a mumble jumble and I'm not good with the prospect of spiders that it was only when we were back in California that we realized that there were some condition issues as well.
But it's an unusual, early example and makes a wonderful "cabinet piece"...that is, for display only rather than for serving a salad !
And it has stayed on display in our cabinet for all this time, but a recent "rearrangement" has prompted us to offer it to a new home rather than squirrel it away in a box.
But it's an unusual, early example and makes a wonderful "cabinet piece"...that is, for display only rather than for serving a salad !
And it has stayed on display in our cabinet for all this time, but a recent "rearrangement" has prompted us to offer it to a new home rather than squirrel it away in a box.
Charming Breton peasants in traditional costumes decorate both sides.
Displaying the set with this side out shows it in the best condition...there's a glaze pop in the petit breton's hat and that's original to when it was made and definitely in keeping with its era of production...1894-1904.
Displaying the bottles with the other side out reveals the heavy craquelure to the glaze of the petit breton...it's not a crack...it's just to the glaze...
Click here to edit.
Another thing that went unnoticed is the repair to the handle of the stand...
The photos accentuate the condition, but there is no denying that there are issues.
Still, it's beautifully decorated with floral sprays...
...and a now-classic four-dot motif...
Both bottles are marked with the town where they were first sold...Tréguier...a small city of character in the Côtes-d'Armor département of Brittany.
Painted by the same artist, all three of the faïence pieces are signed with the entwined A and P for Arthur Porquier.
The set in the stand measures 8 inches wide, 7.5 inches high and 3.875 inches deep.
To be clear on the condition, heavy crackle on one of the cruets means it really only works from one side and even then the set is missing its original lids, there is a small chip to the rim of one cruet, some foot rim wear to one cruet, the handle of the stand was broken and glued back on and as well there are the usual skips and pops.
But here in its "match.com" photo, you can see that there's a lot of love left in the set...
Signed AP...Arthur Porquier oil and vinegar service is $135. US plus $ 40. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 175. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Pair of 19th Century Quimper Plates...Sujet Ordinaire Classics
A pair of classic early Quimper faïence plates...a genre the pottery called sujet ordinaire...but they are far from ordinary...they are the epitome of vintage French folk art faïence!
A handsome fellow with his yellow gaiters and blue culottes...
...and his lady love accents her blue skirt with a golden-yellow apron.
Circa 1890, vintage characteristics include iron reds that are raised to the touch and brownish-purple manganese bands encircling the center motifs. Both have glaze pops that are consistent with their era production and the petite bretonne plate has a smudge...the artist's fingerprint... in the yellow band of the border...also consistent with the era of production.
They measure 9.25 inches in diameter and have the early evident pontil marks. Unsigned, we guarantee them to be authentic Quimper production.
Sorry...Pair of 19th Century Quimper plates...sujet ordinaire classics is sold.
HB Quimper Circa 1900 Ruffled-Edge Petit Breton Plate
Crimping the edges like you would when making a pie crust gives a snazzy ruffle to the border of this early HB Quimper plate.
It measures 7.75 inches in diameter and the foot rim is pierced for hanging...denoting that it was always intended as a decorative piece of pottery...
Circa 1900, there is a restoration on the back of two of the "ruffles"...at around eight o'clock and nine o'clock...these do not show from the front. The front has some glaze pops consistent with its era of production and the blue sponging at seven o'clock looks to have been touched up...overall appearance is good...none of this takes away from its appearance !
The petit breton holds his pipe in a classic stance under a bird-filled sky.
HB Quimper circa 1900 ruffled-edge petit breton plate is $ 65. US plus $20. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 85. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Soup's On ! Porquier Soupière...Covered Soup Tureen
9.5 inches high and and 10.125 inches wide...this colorful Quimper faïence soup tureen is decorated with classic Porquier renditions of the petit breton and petite bretonne figures standing amidst floral sprays.
The domed lid is 8.675 inches in diameter and like the base, is encircled with hand-painted floral sprays, stripes and dots.
There's no mistaking the AP ( Arthur Porquier ) figures from the Porquier pottery circa 1900...so much so that even though the tureen is not signed...not uncommon for pieces of this era...we guarantee it to be authentic, antique Quimper from that era and that pottery.
Condition-wise...it looks terrific, especially considering its age...there is a chip here and there, but nothing that diminishes its appeal. There is a small chip to the glaze on the tureen base...
...and another chip to the underside of the lid...
Glaze pops, especially in the reds, and the missing glaze on the bottom of the base are original to its making and consistent with the fabrication techniques utilized in that era of production. A gorgeous addition to your table, sideboard or cabinet !
Soup's on ! Porquier soupière...covered soup tureen is $ 245.US plus $40. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $285.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Circa 1890 Quimper Festonnée-form Petit Breton Plate
A delightful scallop-edged or festonnée-form plate decorated with all the wonderful colors of early Quimper pottery !
8.25 inches in diameter, the central motif features a handsome petit breton taking a stroll in the countryside.
8.25 inches in diameter, the central motif features a handsome petit breton taking a stroll in the countryside.
It is not signed, but documentation and examination of the method of production, form, décor and glaze colors permit an attribution to it being an Arthur Porquier or AP example...that is a piece from the Porquier pottery circa 1890 that does not feature a motif that was part of the agreement between the Porquier family and Alfred Beau.
The reddish clay that shows through and the three pernette marks to the back along with the blue tinge of the background glaze are further indications of Porquier production. Condition-wise, there are some glaze skips and pops that are customary with pieces of this era and large pontil marks and dust from the kiln on the reverse also in keeping with its era of production. There is some roughness to the edge at 10 o'clock and there is a small chip at 2 o'clock and another at 4 o'clock.
Circa 1890 Quimper festonnée-form petit breton plate is $ 75. US plus $30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 105. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Quimper Quadrillage Motif Plate...Last Half of the 19th Century
Dating from the last half of the 19th Century, this plate is a good example of the early days of Quimper faïence production and serves as a good illustration of the whims of a non-thermostatically-controlled kiln. Such a good example, it was featured in our book on Quimper pottery...on page 152.
Decorated with a classic early Quimper motif featuring a central daisy or marguerite and intersecting lines forming a quadrillage design, it was originally intended to have stronger reds and yellows, but the kilns were wood-fired back then and in this instance, the temperature was not maintained at the proper level for those colors to adhere to the surface. Only light traces where they were applied remain.
Decorated with a classic early Quimper motif featuring a central daisy or marguerite and intersecting lines forming a quadrillage design, it was originally intended to have stronger reds and yellows, but the kilns were wood-fired back then and in this instance, the temperature was not maintained at the proper level for those colors to adhere to the surface. Only light traces where they were applied remain.
Quimper faïence doesn't fade with time...it's all about the whims of the kiln when a piece was originally made !
Unsigned, guaranteed to be antique Quimper, it measures 9 inches in diameter. The back has the typical three marks from the use of pontils and some missing glaze on the top of the back edge that does not show from the front. Note the small hole at around seven o'clock of the center portion.
It blends in on the front to not be noticeable, but that's a hole that was used to hang it on the wall...they didn't have commercial plate hangers in those days ! There is an old restoration on the edge at nine o'clock, but considering its age, the plate is in really remarkable condition !
Quimper quadrillage motif plate...last half of the 19th Century is $ 125. US plus $ 30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $ 155. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Quimper Faïence Secouettes à Tabac
Small and uniquely different, Quimper secouettes are fun to collect, They were used by both men and women and were traditionally given as a token of affection or remembrance and often were used to commemorate an engagement to marry. Because of this, they remained cherished objects of daily life in Brittany. What's the difference between a tabatière and a secouette à tabac? A tabatiere is generally a box with a cover that lifts to allow access to pinch a bit of the processed tobacco. The secouette is a closed receptacle. It was carried with you throughout the day and reminded you of the loved one who gave it to you each and every time you used it. The content comes out of the opening by shaking the receptacle into the palm of your hand so that the snuff comes out between the thumb and the index finger. The term secouette comes from the French word for " to shake"...secouer.
They come in an array of shapes and sizes including the two shown below:
Heart-shaped Secouette...Petit Breton and Fleur de Lys
The quintessential shape for a love token...a heart-shaped secouette !
A debonair petit breton adorns one side...looking like a real rascal in his colorful red culottes.
Turn it over...
...and there's a large fleur de lys in the colors that represent desire and enthusiasm...
Unsigned, the form was first used by the Porquier pottery, but we have seen examples of heart secouettes signed by the HB factory, so while he certainly looks to be a Porquier petit breton...exactly which Quimper pottery cannot be said positively. Late 19th century-very early 20th century, condition is excellent...
No chips, cracks or dings.. rubbing to the glaze around the opening and as you can see in the photos, there are some glaze pops here and there and one area of thin glaze to the left of the petit breton. All normal for this era of production. It measures a generous 2.875 inches high, 2.375 inches wide and 1.375 inches deep.
Heart-shaped secouette...petit breton and fleur de lys is $150.US plus $25. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $175.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
HR Quimper Bottle-form Secouette...Petit Breton
With yellow gaiters accenting his sturdy legs, this petit breton hopes to serve as a remembrance of his human counterpart each time the bottle was shaken !
On the other side, a romantic bouquet of flowers enhances the message of affection.
It measures 3.5 inches high, 1.675 inches wide and .875 of an inch deep. As so often happens with pieces that were used several times a day...day in and day out...the glaze on the top and on the very bottom has been worn...
...there are the typical bloops and pops of this era of production and there is an area on the side where the glaze never adhered in the first place...
Marked underneath the petit breton "HR Quimper", it was made circa 1910. That's a lot of love and affection !
HR Quimper bottle-form secouette...petit breton is $145.US plus $25. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $170.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Classic HR Quimper "Bluebird" Plate
Here's a plate with yellow and blue striped bands encircling the central motif of a bird...but not just any bird...it's a Quimper bird that is a glorious cobalt blue !
Which exact species is unknown, but we're leaning toward "the bluebird of happiness"...a symbol of the joy and happiness that awaits in your future.
It's a joyful and happy antique...made around 1900...and it measures 9.25 inches in diameter. Condition-wise...on the back...
...there are some areas where the glaze skipped or rubbed off on the very edge and two small chips to the back edge, along with evidence of pernettes...used to elevate pieces from the kiln floor...and the remnants of a label from an early collector or shop.
The front of the plate has some minuscule bits of glaze skips to the outer edge and a pop and a bloop in the border, but these are original to when it was made and none of it gets in the way of this colorful bluebird fulfilling its traditional role of being a harbinger of happiness, good health and prosperity !
Classic HR Quimper bluebird plate is $145.US plus $30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $175.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
HB Quimper Fromager...Cheese Server
Like a lot of Quimper pieces, this one had a specific purpose...it was for serving those round cheeses for which the French are so famous...brie, colombier, brillat-saverin, camembert, etc. etc.
The slightly raised inner rim of the under plate does an excellent job of keeping the cheese in place while guests dig in.
Both the lid and the underplate are signed HB Quimper with the "morse code" signature of the artist and the number 221 indicating the form.
A petit breton wearing fancy red bragou-bras ( culottes ) adorns the lid...
...and fanciful flowers and foliage encircle its sides.
It measures 7 inches in diameter and stands 3 inches high. Condition-wise...only three minute glaze chips to the base keep it from being perfect...
HB Quimper fromager...cheese server is $ 45. US plus $ 30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $75. US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Malicorne Puzzle Jug...Émile Tessier
In the nineteenth century, a Malicorne puzzle jug...known in France as pichet à secret, pot à surprise or pichet trompeur became virtually synonymous with pottery from that area of the Sarthe.
Originating as a tavern game, then appearing at royal banquets, the earliest example of a puzzle jug dates from the 14th century. The challenge is to drink or pour from a perforated vessel...a feat that appears to be impossible. The secret lies in knowing where and how to hold it.
Émile Tessier (1887-1971) worked at Léon Pouplard's Plat d'Etain factory in Malicorne before opening his own pottery in 1926. His was a life of passion and creativity when dealing with ceramics and in his later years, he founded the well-respected Malicorne pottery museum. Technically proficient and artistically talented, Tessier's glaze is famously smooth and lustrous and his modeling is superb.
Over the years, puzzle jugs were given as a love token and also became a popular gift for birthdays and bachelor parties. It's easy to see how connoisseurs of wine and other bon vivants can appreciate the beautiful modeling...
...of grapes and grapevines on this sophisticated example.
Vibrant colors and attention to detail give this piece additional appeal.
It will hold a healthy amount...measuring 8.5 inches high and 6.25 inches wide, including the handle...provided, of course, that the server can solve the puzzle.
Here's a visual hint.
As you can see from the photographs, it is in mint condition...one glaze pop and a couple of bits of kiln dust...all original to when it was made. It can be difficult to date Tessier production; the pottery was operational from 1926 to 1971 without definitive lines of demarcation as with dating Quimper. For this piece, the lustrous quality of the glaze most likely puts it in the later portion of production...definitely post World War II, so perhaps circa 1960 is a prudent call.
The Emile Tessier mark on the bottom.
Malicorne puzzle jug...Émile Tessier is $85.US plus $30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $115.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Keraluc...Jos Le Corre Pichet...Motif: Oiseaux Branché avec Fleurs
Jos Le Corre (born Joseph 1925-1979) studied at the École des Beaux-Arts...School of Fine Arts...in both Quimper and Paris. He was a painter, poster designer, ceramist and eventually art professor at his Quimper alma mater. After the end of World War II, when the Quimper potteries were restarting regular production, Le Corre made a few pieces of faïence at the HB pottery, but management deemed them to be too time intensive and the relationship did not flourish.
Enter Victor Lucas (1897-1958) and his innovative Keraluc pottery. The freedom of expression and artistic nurturing immediately appealed to Le Corre and he was one of the first to work at Keraluc...he was there at the beginning in 1946 and would soon after have his own, private studio within the pottery. His pieces are characterized by their spontaneity...created freehand, they exhibit light, but sure, artistic strokes.
Le Corre continued to use his studio within Keraluc to create his unique pieces until Lucas' death in 1958. This pichet...pitcher...is an example of his flirtation with the ancient process of engobe decoration.
It measures 6.875 inches, 5.5 inches wide including the handle and 4 inches wide not counting the handle...a generous size 4 as noted on the bottom:
The early Keraluc mark can be seen on the bottom, reading:
"Made in France Keraluc près Quimper".
"Made in France Keraluc près Quimper".
Detail views capture Le Corre's ease with the brush...
The pitcher is in mint condition...
Keraluc...Jos Le Corre pichet...motif: oiseaux branché avec fleurs is $165. US plus $30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $195.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Pair of Malicorne Shoes...Vases Muraux...Wall Pocket Vases
Not the dinky faïence shoe form that was used to hold salt, these Malicorne faïence shoes measure 4.75 inches long and 1.75 inches wide and were intended to be displayed as a wall decoration...either filled with flowers or not.
A closer look: first the petit breton...
There is a bit of glaze loss to the upper rim of the heel,...difficult to see amidst the stripes...and underneath the bottom "toe" there is a rub to the glaze; this is visible in the first photo, but doesn't show in this one.
The petite bretonne wall pocket is in perfect condition...and she is obviously the more industrious of the two.
He is shown standing nonchalantly with one hand on his waist and the other holding a branch while she is toting a water jug in one hand and a pile of laundry under the opposite arm. Hmmmmm.
Sprays of flowers and an insect or two surround the figures; each wall pocket has holes in the heel of the shoe for a hanging ribbon...allowing them to be displayed either together or separately. ( Or don't mount them on a wall and use them on a table for holding potpourri, etc. )
Each has the PBx mark of the Plat d'Etain pottery in Malicorne; they date from circa 1910.
Pair of Malicorne shoes...Vases Muraux is $55. US plus $20. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total
of $75.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
of $75.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
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; there is an incised x on the reverse...this was often used to indicate that once the form as fired, it was to go to the studio to be painted...and beautifully painted it was!
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; there is an incised x on the reverse...this was often used to indicate that once the form as fired, it was to go to the studio to be painted...and beautifully painted it was!
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.
Early 19th Century cul noir calotte is $95.US plus $30. as a contribution towards insured shipping to a US address for a total of $125.US.
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
Note: For shipping to other destinations or any questions, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
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. US plus shipping. Since discounted book rate shipping is available for some destinations, to purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
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. US plus shipping. Since discounted book rate shipping is available for some destinations, to purchase, please contact us at oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)
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That's our Shop in Your Slippers selection for this issue...if have any questions, please contact us at: oldquimper@yahoo.com. (Be sure to check your email settings, because...being an email from France...we sometimes end up in your SPAM folder !)