I've written previously about my penchant for old white 'peasant style' French pottery, and I suppose that these breakfast bowls are typical of the genre.
Rather than for cornflakes or sugar puffs, they were (and still are) used for drinking morning coffee or hot chocolate, into which they would also have 'dunked' buttered baguettes or a croissant.
Much of my collection of this beautiful simple pottery is made by 'Gien', a company that still exists east of Orléans, in the Loire valley. Many of these earlier 'Gien' objects possess a purity that one could almost ascribe to the 'Shaker' designs of Ann Lee.
I quite imagine that these basic utilitarian objects were bought at village markets. They are often 'seconds', and were probably hawked around the country to sell at knock-down prices to the poorest of peasant farmers.
Nowadays, I'm pleased to say, they make-up part of Cro's motley collection. The original owners would probably have been much amused.
I quite imagine that these basic utilitarian objects were bought at village markets. They are often 'seconds', and were probably hawked around the country to sell at knock-down prices to the poorest of peasant farmers.
Nowadays, I'm pleased to say, they make-up part of Cro's motley collection. The original owners would probably have been much amused.
Oh, they are beautiful little bowls. Such a wonderful shape. No wonder you love them.
ReplyDeleteTotally basic, yet totally beautiful.
DeleteLove to see these traditional things, such rustic charm.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteI went through a phase of decorated bone china but now prefer simple white porcelain. The rate at which maids smashed crockery might have had something to do with it!
ReplyDeleteThe good thing about 'white' is that everything goes with everything else. New, antique; ornate or simple. Boot sales abound with the stuff.
DeleteDecorated bone china and angola tom don't quite go together
DeleteThere is a corner of a foreign field that will remain forever England, my dining room! It was my duty to maintain standards.
DeleteAs a plain Jane....I kind of like their simplicity
ReplyDeleteI love them Cro. I think there are so many things these days which we admire like this and which the original owners would find amusing. Maybe it goes back to the days when folk bought this sort of stuff for utilitarian purposes only, whereas I like you like to eat off crockery which I find aesthetically pleasing.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely, Cro. Simplicity is always elegant.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder who decided to put handles on cups and mugs as we often cup our hands around them to drink and the handle is superfluous.
ReplyDeleteYours look like they would hold a nice lot of liquid.
Briony
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I really like the shape and the idea of being 'footed'. It's like the contents of the bowl are being lifted up to you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Cro ….. all of our crockery is french and white including 8 french bowls like yours and all very reasonable, price wise. I think food looks great on white plates and, I love a bit of mix and match ….. some vintage from the markets and some reproduction.
ReplyDelete….. and, there's nothing more comforting than dunking a croissant in your coffee, especially when it's pouring with rain as it is right now here. XXXX
Attractive white serving plates make even the simplest of meals taste better.
DeleteVery nice, simple bowls...I love them!
ReplyDeleteSimple, beautiful, and functional...what could be better?
ReplyDeleteThey're beautiful - I love simple pottery design and they look just a perfect size for hand warming too!
ReplyDeleteI covet your bowls, Cro, very satisfying objects. I like bowls in general as they have so many uses. All my everyday crockery is a mismatch of white on which food always looks tempting.
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