Early Quimper Plates: Ah! These are the essence of Art Populaire as turned out by the Quimper faïenceries in the 19th century. The colors are vivid, the artistic qualities extraordinary, and the fact of any still being around, and in good condition after far more than 100 years of use, is remarkable. The plates in this particular group are all the shape known as a calotte: a large shallow bowl, eminently useful for serving soups, stews, pastas, salades composées. It is difficult to be totally precise about the dating, beyond the general designation of mid-19th century. None are signed, typical of the wares of that period, but all are guaranteed to be truly old Quimper. (The sole exception, the geometric pinwheel, is signed, as indicated below). This is our personal favorite style of all the many, many aspects of Quimper faience, and, indeed, several of these have come from our own collection.

Here are two fine examples of this form, generously sized, in perfect condition, each with a charming pansy in the middle. Note the very tiny jog in the stripes that circle the sloping sides of each plate; a glaze blob that caused a tiny detour: On plate A, left, that occurs at about 9 o'clock. On plate B, right, it occurs at 10 o'clock. Plate A has several miniscule flecks of glaze missing on the underside of the rim, at about 4 o'clock. Plate B has a tiny glaze skip at 6 o'clock and the faintest touch of rim wear. All of these are so faint that they do not show up on photos. Any French auction catalogue would describe them as "Impeccable". The diameter of plate A is 9-1/4"; the diameter of plate B is 9". Both show a slight irregularity in the flare of the sloping sides. They really are a bon marché!

$295.00 each

This is the youngest member of this group: a mere 100 or so years old. A simple à la touche border contrasts nicely with the cross-hatching and intricate patterns on the cone-shaped panels. Slightly smaller, 8-1/2" diameter, and slightly shallower than the earlier pieces in this group, it manages to be simple and dramatic at the same time. A nice artistic accomplishment, indeed!

$295.00

An inspired use of the à la touche strokes creates the daisy-like flower in the center, the leafy spray surround, and the outer design in the same vibrant orange, interspersed with simple bands of yellow and manganese - the essence of simplicity, which so well defines this style. There is a rough patch atop the glaze in one corner of the inner design, probably due to impurities which bubbled up during the firing. Happily, this was not considered a reason to discard the piece as un-saleable or not useful, and so it has survived for much more than one hundred years (the last twenty of them on our own kitchen shelf, which no longer exists). There is a tiny sliver of glaze missing on an outside edge, not discernible when the piece is sitting upright. It measures 9-3/8" in diameter and mixes well with other decors of this period, as well as later, more traditional ones.

$495.00

Naive, primitive, folk-y, this wonderful rooster is all of those things, and a devil to photograph besides. The rendering of both the rooster and the tree are amazingly modern: not much detail, yet very life-like. At the same time, the strong use of manganese in the stripes, the tree trunk, and the rooster's tail help to create the aura of great age. A delicate balance, indeed! The diameter is 9-1/8", and there is a marked distortion in the curve of the sides, at the base. It gives one a real sense of a human hand having shaped the piece, rather than having simply been preformed on a mold. A minor professional repair, to keep the piece intact and in good shape.

$495.00

A great rarity, from about 1850. Yes, there are Orientals that show up in old Quimper, but more often in the elegant designs from the later Porquier-Beau production. But here he is, all artful simplicity, smoking a long water pipe and looking totally at ease in his French surroundings. The sponged band atop the striping is another rarity; it was indeed used, but not often, in the 19th century, and less so into modern times. Note there are some glaze skips on the blue outside rim on the left-hand side, and also a few on the inner yellow band on the inner right-hand side. Otherwise, he is in fabulous condition and a great prize for the connoisseur. His diameter is 8-3/4", and he is a bit deeper than most of the others ... une vraie calotte !

$1800.00

Our all-time favorite pattern: the exuberant basket of flowers. See our book, p.76, for a discussion of this design (indeed, there is an identical shape from the same period as the one we are offering now). Eight rows of stripes climb up the sloping sides of this plate, making an effective frame for the basket of flowers which richly fills the space within. 9-1/8" diameter, in perfect condition, just a bit of possibly old manganese paint on outside of rim, at about 3 o'clock, and a couple of little splashes of whatever on the very bottom. Again, this piece is "Impeccable" by all standards. A handsome rendering of this very old decor, ca. 1860.

$650.00

Here is a wonderful early calotte, the design like a primitive painting of an old manor house, seen through the branches of leafy trees and shrubs. Part of its considerable charm is the total lack of logical perspective between the building and its surrounding foliage, and part is the rarity of the scene at all! It measures 8-3/4"across and has a nice depth to it. There are several glaze pops on the orange wreath that encircles the deep sloping sides, and one tiny fleck of glaze gone on the outside rim, at about 4 o'clock. The use of the strong manganese color for the building's rooflines and windows is continued in the broad horizontal stripes to suggest the terrain.

$1600.00

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