English version below the pictures
Pendant que nous étions en Bretagne il y a quelques années, nous avons passé une journée à Quimper , une bien jolie ville . Sa splendide cathédrale gothique ( XIIIème siècle ) dédicacée à St Corentin et ses vieilles rues nous ont donné une impression de douceur et de vieille civilisation .
During our stay in Brittany ( western France ) some years ago , we had a day for visiting Quimper , a so much beautiful town . Its splendid gothic cathedral ( XIII th century ) dedicated to St Corentin and its old streets gave to us a feeling of sweetness and old civilization .
A Quimper il y a depuis longtemps des manufactures de faïence et il y a un style Quimper pour la décoration ( faite à la main ). Nous avons visité une de ces manufactures et acheté une théière qui montre ce style . Nous avions déjà un saladier de ce style pour notre usage courant et un plus que centenaire plat de faïence bretonne montrant un mariage et des armoiries ( peut – être celle de la renommée duchesse Anne de Bretagne qui vécut au XVème siècle.ou de l ‘ ordre breton de l ‘ Herminette avec la devise ” A ma vie ” ) Ceci rappelle l ‘ ordre anglais de la Jarretière dont la devise est aussi écrite en français :” honni soit qui mal y pense ” . Ces ordres de chevalerie ont été créés à la même époque ( XIV ème siècle ) , je pense .
Le vieux plat breton plus que centenaire The more than 100 years old Britton plate Photo M Fauquet
In Quimper there are , for long , faience ( glazed earthenware) manufactories and there is a Quimper style for the handmade decoration . We visited one of those manufactories and bought a teapot that shows this style . We already have a salad bowl like that for our current using and a more than old year old large plate of britton faience showing a marriage and armorial bearings ( perhaps the ones of the renowned Duchess Anne de Bretagne who lived in the XVth century or perhaps the ones of the Britton order of the ermine with the device ” A MA VIE ” that means : to my life or He has my life ? ). This recalls the English order of the Garter of which the device is written in French ” hon(n)i soit qui mal y pense ” that means : evil be to him who evil thinks . Those orders of the knighthood have been created at the same period ( XIV century ) , I think .
J ‘ai essayé une composition photographique avec quelques unes des pièces de faïence que nous avons . Cette composition me surprend par les fraîcheur des couleurs . Il y a une France des fromages , des vins , des châteaux mais aussi des faïences . Beaucoup de villes ont leur style : Rouen , Marseille , Nevers , Strasbourg , Lunéville , Giens , le Moustiers etc … .
I attempted a photo – composition with some of the pieces of faience we own . This composition surprises me by the freshness of the colors . There is a France of cheeses ,wines , castles but also of faiences . Many towns have their style of faience : Rouen , Marseille , Nevers , Strasbourg , Lunéville ,Giens , Le Moustiers etc …
Nous mangeons mieux dans une belle faïence , dans un parfum d ‘ histoire
We eat better in using a fine earthenware , in a perfume of history
Those are beautiful, Michel! “We eat better in using a fine earthenware , in a perfume of history” are beautiful words, too.
Much love to you and the family – Lavinia
Is not the the fulfillment of the eyes a part of the enjoyment of a meal, Lavinia ?
So very beautiful Michel. It seems using fine china is a thing of the past but I still like to use mine for special occasions. As a wedding gift my in-laws, knowing we would be spending the next few years in Germany, gifted us with china from Dresden. Thank you for these beautiful photographs! Be well my friend, Love ❤
w e have also some fine china, Holly , but not too much :for the memory( Porcelain of Limoges , of Arras ) We use it rarely:
It’s beautiful I’m sure. I know it’s material but these things hold so many memories, that’s the important thing. ♥️
Yes this is material but this is bearing so much memorie and also a pat of the civilisation.
Exactly, so we’ll said !
I’m so glad you did this follow-up post, Michel. And thanks for showing us some of the Faience pieces you own. They are beautiful! I first came across this kind of pottery/earthenware in a magazine decades ago, then saw it in the home of friends, and am always enchanted by it. You are right: there is a freshness to the colours, and to the imagery.
In reading one of your previous post about this topic , Cynthia, i had the inspiration to post about too; Thank you.
Michel I am very fond of teapots but have none like that. I did not even grow up eating off fine dinner ware, mom had a set popular then of Melmac. (a plastic) It is still sold I looked it up on Amazon. 🙂
Everyone has his traditions, Bonnie .For us a simple meal is a feat and itis bnatural for us to eat in erthanware plates !<:)
Thank you for sharing the pictures and story of your beautiful earthenware. The fact that you have visited the place where they were made makes them even more special. You are right that eating off of beautiful dishes can elevate a simple meal.
Quality of life asks knowledge of what surrounds us , Nancy
Il y a 2 ans, Isa et moi étions aussi à Quimper avec les enfants et sommes tombées sous le charme de cette jolie petite ville ! Quant à cette magnifique soupière, elle évoque pour moi, un souvenir toujours un peu traumatisant !!!
Je t’embrasse Papa
Véro
J ‘ avoue que l’ incident que tu évoques était sorti de ma mémoire . Je préfère conserver les souvenirs positifs . Merci pour ton commentaire Véronique
Beautiful photos. 🙂
Do you like really those earthenware s’ decors Kaith ?
Very pretty. Hope the new year is treating you well
Thanks . Yes the beginning of the year was good but it was a bit a rush to conciliate with the dialysis . 🙂
I bet it was
Gatherings of all kind are close and we become a bit tired . Don’t you?
Yes I was glad when our last Christmas was over and life went back to normal
OH! such beautiful earthenware, Michel! Each piece tells a story and all of it brings smiles and warmth! How wonderful that you visited where it was made! 🙂
What food is served on and in makes a meal even more enjoyable! 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
I am born in an area of northern France where we were made replica of ancient styles earthenware . It is probably why I always have been attracted by them when we were traveling though France in visiting factories or museums .
Those are really nice pieces. The town looks very interesting too. I’ve been very curious about Brittany and the regional language (a Celtic tongue) and culture.
Brittany is a strong and very ancient region of France . Rocks are ancient and are what is remaining of the Hercynian mountains from the first era ; The traditions are vivid , the architecture is typical ; The coast is beautiful and wild . I remember not having had time enough to study the four species of Erica . We went a few times in Brittany but never had time enough .
What mental picture I have is influenced by Genet’s Querelle de Brest, Finistère the final outpost, and so on . . . I think of it as rocks and wild, implacable sea. It is probably not correct!
I did not know about the Erica but after some searches on the Internet I gather that the heath fields of Brittany are a major feature of the habitat. It must be an interesting landscape.
You are right ,Neil, in Brittany we feel being between rock, sky and sea . I imagine it is the same in Wales .
Britton witers , sea lovers , are famous such Roger Vercel ( Remorques ) and Pierre Loti( Pêcheurs d’Islande ) to add to Genet
I have always enjoyed beautiful china and earthenware. Food is an artistic occasion and very special when served on beautiful dishes.
I agree totally with you, Françoise . The beauty of the table clothe and of the dishes prepare to a high level of enjoyment of the food ! 🙂
I adore the composition. It makes me happy. Lovely pieces that tell a story.. 😉
I use to put up my special plates for “occasions” but life is an occasion so no we use them. 😉
hugs
And you are right, Elizabeth, this is one of the ways to enjoy life ;
Beautiful pieces. I love collecting old dishware.
I understand , Caroline, They are pieces of history
They are beautiful and I’m glad you use them instead of just having them on display.
The beauty of the dishes makes the food more exciting, Matt. 🙂
It sounds like it was a fine adventure! I enjoy pieces like that; so much character! I like the colors, too.
Yes , Susan , it was an adventure loaded of EMOTIONS
These pieces are really beautiful, Michel! Classic designs and so well made. I do love the colours used on all of them. 🙂
Yes Marion the design is a replica of an ancient style and this made his charm . This is linked to an area of France like some wines or cheeses !! 🙂
The town, Quimper, looks impressive. I love the happy blues and reds in the paints, and the memories of traveling when you purchased them make them even more special. I hope you are well, Michel. Greetings to you and your family.
Yes Quimper is a beautiful town and we loved the earthenware made there .
You ask how i go : well despite of the dialysis I This would be appro^^tiate to ask you about this, Dan , after the drama you crossed some times ago.
Beautiful pieces Michel!! I have a couple of my grandmothers china but they’re in storage…Maybe I should get them out and use them! My daughter is getting married next year and I will probably give them to her…passing down generations. Take care and God bless you and Janine ❤
We should do a beautiful gift to your daughter, Gayle . So loaded of memories this china is priceless.
Beautiful and a joy to use. Take care, both you and Janine. ❤
We enjoy to look at it, principally, Marilyn.
Beautiful earthenware photos. My mother collected teapots and had 110 when she passed away.
110 teapots , Gail ? )this is a record !
Une tres jolie ville, Quimper que j’ai eu let plaisir de visiter en 1982 quand j’avais 20 ans. J’aime la vieille assiette. Honi soit qui mal y pense etait la devise de mon lycee Selby Grammar school!
Je suis content, Stéphanie , de savoir que cette entrée te rappelle des souvenirs aussi bien à propos de Quimper que tu as visité avant nous que pour la devise de l’ordre la Jarretière ( si ma mémoire est bonne . Il se trouve que c ‘était aussi la devise de ta grammar school!. Avec mon amical souvenir.
I love reading your posts, because you write about your life in France.
Those ceramics looks beautiful. Reminded me of the ones that was done in the 60’s in Britain.
My family gained some, and I now have it.
It is well you treasure your British ceramics , Angy.
I very much like the one on the bottom left – I’m pleased you gain so much pleasure from them 🙂
I like the earthen ware for long .. A factory made them in my birthplace area
Très jolies couleurs en effet ça change de la faience de Desvres qui est dans les tons bleu.Bonne journée à vous deux on vous embrasse Carole
Oui les couleurs sont délicates et agréables .Merci Carole
J’aime bien: “Nous mangeons mieux dans une belle faïence , dans un parfum d ‘ histoire.” C’est vrai! Enjoy!!!
J ‘aime cette appréciation du Chef Louisa 😉
These photos are lovely! I would love to visit France one day and walk along the cobbled streets of the town/ village, sample its cuisine, and buy a teapot or a faience for my home!
Most of the tourists visit Paris but forgot the charms of the French regions such Britanny . France is a mosaic of very different regions , Suzy
Lovely. Lots of love to you all ❤
Thanks , Nancy.
Mornin Glorie again! I am catching up on my reading, the last and first of the year are busy for me! I loved the picture of Quimper, so lovely, also I have learned a new french word, faience, it would certainly make a wonderful table setting but I would be nervous that something would be broken! ilym
The soup tureen already has been broken in the past but I stuck carefully the pieces ! this is so precious:. My time is alseo eaten , half by the dialysis !!
What lovely pieces! I have some Polish pottery (two mugs and a small demitasse cup), but I really love styles reminiscent of centuries ago such as what you have.
In East Europe ( Germany, Polish ,) we find indeed beutiful earthenware and also china , Marica.
How lovely! I would love to visit Brittany.
Beautiful teapot!
Linda, Britanny is the corner of France the nearest from the USA!! This is a region of France which much personnality
Reply
I was not familiar with this lovely pottery and I appreciate the history lesson also. Beautiful photos as always, Michel.
Love,
Christine❤️
I am always learning something new when I read your posts! Thank you!
The earthenware manufacture is unfortunately half dead. All the craft having know how as been fired or is gone. Today, the manufacture has only about 10-15 persons, and most of the know how is already gone…