Large 19th Century French Painted Faience Porquier Beau Quimper Serving Platter

$3,950

About

Decorate a kitchen wall or a shelf with this important antique platter. Created by Porquier Beau in Quimper, France circa 1895, the large hand-painted ceramic plate depict a traditional wedding scene with Breton people in attire costumes, dancing and drinking under a tent. The composition show young men and women having fun. The oval platter with scalloped edges is decorated with a two-tone blue leaf border, and is embellished in the center top with the coat of arms of Brittany. The colorful wall faience piece is in excellent condition and marked with the crossed PB stamp underfoot for further authentication. The large oblong decorative plate would make an outstanding addition to your porcelain collection. Stamped PB (for Porquier Beau) on the underside with the word “Noce Bretonne” (Brittany wedding), for further authentication. Quimper pottery has a long, impressive history. Tin-glazed, hand painted pottery has been made in Quimper, France since the late seventeenth century. The earliest firm, founded in 1685 by Jean Baptiste Bousquet, was known as HB Quimper. Another firm, founded in 1772 by Francois Eloury, was known as Porquier. The third firm, founded by Guillaume Dumaine in 1778, was known as HR or Henriot Quimper. All three firms made similar pottery decorated with designs of Breton peasants and maritime and flower motifs. The Eloury (Porquier) and Dumaine (Henriot) firms merged in 1913. Bousquet (HB) merged with the others in 1968. The group was sold to a United States family in 1984. More changes followed, and in 2011 Jean-Pierre Le Goff became the owner and the name was changed to Henriot-Quimper. The French firm has been called Societe Nouvelle des Faienceries de Quimper HB Henriot since March 1984. Pottery was made in Quimper when the city was part of the Roman Empire, long before tin-glazed pottery was being made. Measures: 21″ W x 16″ H.

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