Wednesday 4 January 2012

Alphabe-Thursday. G is for Gavotte

It's been a while since I've shared pictures of beautiful antique and vintage pieces of Quimper faïence.
For this week's Alphabe-Thursday with Mrs Matlock @ Off On My Tangent I created a mosaic featuring two plates, a tall and slender jug, a bowl, and a two wall pockets, one shaped as an umbrella and the other in the form of a ladies slipper.


What these beautiful pieces all have in common is the hand painted motif of a young Breton couple, captured mid-step whilst dancing a country folk dance called a Gavotte.
These pieces have all been part of our collection at some time but sadly all belong in other collections now!
The Gavotte remains popular in Brittany to this day and you will often see it demonstrated during the many wonderful festivals held throughout Brittany during the summer months.

Beautiful costumes
Festival de Cornouaille  July 2002
Click here to visit the Festival de Cornouaille 2012 website.
If you are planning a trip to Brittany this year you shouldn't miss this wonderful event.

Daily daffodil

20 comments:

  1. Maggie, thanks for a look at these beautiful pieces. Great idea to feature the different forms with the same motif. We should carry this idea into the Journal.
    Still no daffodils here. ;-)
    Hugs ~ Sarah

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  2. So beautiful Maggie. I love quimper and you showed the most beautiful pieces. I especially like the wall pockets and that beautiful slender vase.
    Hugs from Riet

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  3. What beautiful pieces!
    The costume on the young couple is lovely - it must be fun to attend a festival where there are many in such dress.
    No daffodils here today, but it's mild and there's been enough rain to float some over from your side of the pond!

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  4. Lovely pieces Maggie, Seeing the couple in the costume reminds me of the first Quimper Club meeting that Dick and I attended in Brittany when those lovely young people came to dance for us.

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  5. Such beautiful pieces, Maggie. I love the designs on them.
    When I read the title of your post, my mind flashed back to piano lessons and playing some "Gavottes." Fun!

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  6. Maggie, I immediately thought of the Gavotte I used to play on the piano... I see Lorrie has the same memories.
    The costumes are lovely . I'd love to see them dance.

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  7. Oh a daily daffodil - how lucky you are! Lovely to see your collection !

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  8. Gorgeous pieces, and I especially like the wall pockets. Do you put flowers in them or just display them as they are? Thanks for sharing the link, too.
    Babs

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  9. Beautiful Pieces no daffs here yet and I love Brittany

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  10. Hi Maggie, what beautiful pieces of Quimper. One of my favorite motifs. Great photographs, I always enjoy seeing what pieces you collect.
    A little early here for daffodils. About mid January I start the watch, the daffodil is my favorite flower!
    Best Wishes for the New Year……

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  11. love the costumes! What a lively post! Looks like a lot of fun, if you don't trip and fall. {:-D

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  12. Veru pretty pieces ! I never heard of this dance, I have to ask my friend she came from Normandy. Although I live in Belgium, I have never been there. Only in Bretagne.

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  13. I saw your comment on Writer’s Cramp and thought to come back to your blog. I visited your blog in June and loved your lovely pictures. These Quimper pieces are beautiful. My cousin collects old Gien faïence – do you know it? I’d love to go to a festival Breton – the music too must be lively.

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  14. What wonderful pieces! I love this pattern.

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  15. Only knew the "Gavotte" as a musical movement, but I never realized it was an actual dance in Bretagne! Love the umbrella!

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  16. Such lovely ornate pieces. I'm such a minimalist but I still love looking at these.

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  17. The plates and jug are lovely, but those wall pockets are simply fabulous!

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  18. Oh my goodness, I'd spend way more time there myself! The costumes are so lovely too! Beautiful photos!

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  19. lucky girl! we are mad francophiles here -- and I collect Quimper as well, though your pieces are exquisite.

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  20. Carly Simon's "You're so Vain" song popped into my head here...


    You have a gorgeous collection here.

    I enjoy the similarities shown in the mosaic and the different intricancies in each picture!

    Thanks for such a grand link to the letter G.

    A+

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!