Pair 19th C. French Quimper Porquier-Beau Faience Wall Platters With Figures

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Decorate a kitchen wall or open shelving with this important pair of antique hand-painted faience platters by Porquier-Beau, created in … Read more Decorate a kitchen wall or open shelving with this important pair of antique hand-painted faience platters by Porquier-Beau, created in Quimper, Brittany, circa 1895. Each rectangular platter features folding corners and softly scalloped edges, framed by a richly painted two-tone blue foliate border and surmounted at the top with the coat of arms of Brittany, a proud regional emblem rendered in vibrant polychrome. The central narrative scenes depict moments of everyday rural Breton life, executed with remarkable charm and storytelling detail. One platter, titled L’Histoire de la Grand-Mère, portrays an elderly woman spinning wool with a spindle while children gather attentively around her, capturing a quiet domestic moment and the passing of tradition between generations. The companion platter illustrates a lively outdoor scene with figures in traditional Breton dress, including a man dancing or leading movement, a woman engaged nearby, and seated musicians animating the gathering, all set against the backdrop of a rustic cottage. Both scenes celebrate the heritage, folklore, and communal spirit of 19th century Brittany.
Porquier-Beau is widely regarded as one of the most important and collectible Quimper faience workshops of the 19th century. Founded by the Porquier family in the late 18th century and later operated under the Porquier-Beau name, the firm is celebrated for its finely drawn figural scenes, rich coloration, and high artistic standards, often surpassing contemporaries in both painterly quality and narrative sophistication. Porquier-Beau works are highly sought after by collectors and are well represented in major museum collections devoted to French regional ceramics.
The colorful antique platters are in excellent condition commensurate with age and use and are marked on the reverse with the crossed PB signature for Porquier-Beau, confirming authenticity. These museum-quality faience works make a striking addition to any Quimper, French folk art, or decorative porcelain collection.
Dimensions: 12.25" W x 15.5" H each See less