1930s Hb Quimper Pottery Faience France Top Hat Man on Bench Ceramic Plate

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Quimper pottery gets its name from a town in the province of Brittany located in northwestern France. Quimper has a … Read more Quimper pottery gets its name from a town in the province of Brittany located in northwestern France. Quimper has a longstanding history as a ceramics mecca. Quimper’s close proximity to rivers provides rich riverbed clay which is good for the making of pottery. Thus, the town attracted many skilled potters who established pottery firms there.

In the 1700s, Pierre Bousquet established a pottery factory in Quimper and later went into business with members of his extended family, the De La Hubaudieres, to form Hubaudiere-Bousquet. They made pottery using the now famous “HB” mark. The factory’s pieces are marked with the highly recognizable “HB” mark and the town name “Quimper”.

HB Quimper pieces are hand painted with highly detailed decorations based on French prints featuring peasants in traditional costumes, landscapes, and intricate border decoration.

This is a rare hand painted plate depicting a man wearing a top hat and a traditional costume, sitting on a bench. The back stamp on this piece shows the famous handwritten run-together HB mark, followed by Quimper, followed by the painter's individual marking. (Dots, dashes, and other Morse code-type symbols were used as painters' signatures). This back stamp was used between 1918 and 1942. Research indicates this piece was likely made in the 1930s. Measures 9 1/2" in diameter.

No chips, cracks, or evidence of unusual wear EXCEPT for a small shallow chip off the BACK of the rim. (See close up photo). When the plate is upright, the flaw cannot be seen. I don't see any crazing. See less