It's a Camïeu Blue Monday

Hanging French Shelf with Camïeu Blue Quimper Pottery

With the exception of a small blue willow tea set, which you can read about here, we don't have the typical collection one thinks of for blue and white pottery. Ours is not Chinese, nor is it Delft or English. What we do have is a small group of French faïence done in the camaïeu blue technique.

Unmarked Quimper Secouette or Snuff Bottle

It's once again time for Blue Monday with Smiling Sally so a perfect opportunity to share a group of French faïence done in the camaïeu technique. Camaïeu is a technique where by an object is decorated in varying shades of one color. In this case blue. Pieces are often outlined or shaded in a darker shade and then accented with lighter shades of the same color family.

HB Quimper Doughnut Shaped Teapot with Missing Lid

Though beautiful examples of entire scenes painted in camïeue blue were produced, we unfortunately don't have any in our personal collection. Our pieces painted in this technique are in the fleur de lys decor, of which this doughnut shaped tea pot is a classic example. You can see the outline done in the darkest color and then the use of two lighter shades of blue. All this done on a white glaze blackground.

HB Quimper Porte Bouquet on Rectangular Base

HR Quimper Tri-Lobed Footed Saucer with Three Small Feet on the Base

Most of our pieces in this decor were produced by HB Quimper. The above saucer is of HR Quimper production. One can see that the decor varies little between these two faïenceries.

HB Quimper Secouette (Front on Left, Reverse on on Right)

This little secouette or snuff bottle was quite a find. Often these small pieces were not marked, but this one bears the mark of HB Quimper on the reverse seen with the ermine tail. It also retains the original cork with wire pull. It is rare to find a secouette with its original cork in place. I've not attempted to remove the cork because of fear it would pull apart, but I can shake the secouette and hear that it indeed has something inside. I suspect it is extremely aged snuff.

Pair of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dishes

with HB Quimper Heart Shaped Secouette

In Brittany one is never far from the sea, so these little scalloped shell dishes are the perfect shape to reflect a life tied to the sea. The pair shown on either side of the secouette are very delicate in feel, and they are very small in size as you can see compared to the small secouette. They are less than 3.5" x 4.5".

Reverse of HB Quimper Shell Shaped Dish with Mark

The reverse side is also interesting. These little dishes sit on a rimmed base, and the mark includes a G, which I suspect is an artist signature.

HB Porte Carte

This little porte carte was made to hold a small card, perhaps to mark one's place at the table or to hold a small menu card. I have to confess that I've a passion for both porte carte forms and those of secouettes. I like the textural feel of holding these little treasures of the past in the palm of my hand. I'm particularly pleased we have this one because it is done in camïeue blue, and it is the only example in our group of camïeue blue that features a figure.

Reverse of HB Porte Carte

The reverse does feature the fleur de lys, but the feel is very different from the typical fleur de lys pattern shown in the above photos.

Unmarked Perfume Faïence Flask

This last piece doesn't qualify as a camïeue piece, but I have it displayed with the group because it seems to fit in. This is a perfume bottle, much the size and style of a secouette.

Reverse Side of Perfume Flask

You can see from the wording on this side that this was made for Guy Parfumeur. Coeur de Bretagne indicates the heart of Brittany, but perhaps this is simply a reference to this piece being a souvenir of Brittany. I've had no success tracking down any information on this parfumeur. The piece is unmarked other than the references on this side. If anyone has any ideas or knowledge of this piece, please share.

If you enjoyed my contribution to Blue Monday, please leave a comment below to let me know you stopped by for a visit.

Then click here to go over to the QCI blog where Cerelle has been sharing an ongoing story of her youth spent in France. Today's Blue Monday post features pieces in her collection that were produced with this camïeue technique.

Then click here to go to Smiling Sally's for a list of other Blue Monday posts.

Birds of a Feather

Metal Flowers and Birds, Round Top Collection

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch. The birds are gathering here at Hyacinths for the Soul for lunch. Glad you could join in the fun!

Bécassine Figural from HB Quimper Tabac Series

Bécassine is here to greet our guests with bouquets of

fresh flowers and seed for our feathered friends.

Unmarked Desvres Figural Salt

As are our sweet young French friends, 

Monsieur Jean Marc and Mademoiselle Sophie.

Jean Marc loves to talk to Sophie's sweet little yellow finch, but young Sophie worries that her little birdie may take flight and not return to it's own special birdcage where he lives in Sophie's home.

Unmarked Desvres Figural Salt

So here she is patient and at the ready 
should the little finch take flight.

And yes, here comes more feathered friends to join the feast.

Detail on Brass Serving Tray

The sweet natured cockatoo 
with his fluffy head feathers is here.

Detail on Brass Serving Tray

And listen, did you hear the flutter of wings 

as this little parakeet flew in to the perch?

Detail on Brass Serving Tray

Could this be a large African grey parrot? 

 No doubt he got word of the party and 

definitely didn't want to be left out.

"Un Verre D' Amitié" Glasses, Simon Pearce Water Pitcher, HB Quimper Porringer, Brass Tray w/ Birds

So take a glass of blackberry sage ice tea 
and join in a toast to friendship.

"Un Verre D' Amitié" - A Glass of Friendship

Here's to friendship and our fine feathered friends!

I see the little chickadees are gathering on the table. 

 Let's see what the chef has planned.

Porte-Carte, Formaintraux Coquin

A nice light lunch for each of you with double
chocolate brownies for dessert!

Hand Crafted Victorian Gardener's Cottage 
for Wren or Purple Finch

Looks like a few of our friends live right here on the table.

Cast Iron Bird Feeder w/ Birds

Yes, I see they have begun on a lunch of their own.

Arthur Porquier Double Sided Porte-Carte

HenRiot Quimper Plate, 9.5"

The morning dove, no doubt a cautious mother, 

has brought along her little family to keep a watchful eye.

HenRiot Quimper Plate, 9.5"

Mr. Peacock is here to strut his feathers in 

celebration of joining all his feathered friends.

HenRiot Quimper Plate, 9.5"

And the crane, carefully and delicately approaches the group.

HenRiot Quimper Plate, 9.5"

Oh just listen to this sweet song bird 
as he flutters in from the garden.

HR Quimper Fan Shaped Porte-Carte

Little feet are scampering everywhere!

Unmarked Quimper Sugar Bowl with 
Bouquet of Zinnias and Fresh Basil

Does he think he is in the garden?

Unmarked Quimper Covered Casserole w/ Handles

Don't let them jump into our 
basket of fresh pain de campagne.

Chicken Salad Served in Avocado Boat in Blue Glass Bowl, Christophe Silver, Placemats by Lenox

Would you like your chicken salad with avocado?

Chicken Salad Served w/ Vine Ripe Tomato in Blue Glass Bowl

Or perhaps you prefer yours within a vine ripened tomato.

Birds Eye View of "Birds of a Feather" Luncheon

I think the birds are up on the chandelier eyeing our table. 
 Bon Appétit!

Buffet: Metal Cake Stand w/ Birds, 
Desvres Yellow Dessert Set w/ Blue Bird, Quimper Lady,

Desvres Figural Salts, Copper Planter w/ Peace Lily and Round Top Collection Accents, Brass Tray w/ Glassware

Don't forget to have a brownie before 
you flay away to visit more tablescapes.

Cosi Tabellini Italian Pewter Charger, French Appliqué Napkin

Hope you enjoyed our little birdie celebration. Click here to fly over to the QCI blog where I'm spotlighting another little party with just a few photos. Then don't miss the other beautiful tables that are listed here @ Between Naps on the Porch.