Just wanted to start today’s blog with a big Merci! Thank you
to everyone who took the time to tell me that they enjoy my blog. Your kind
words and well wishes for my blog, my health and my family are wholly
appreciated. However, don’t be afraid, just because I’m a sicky-poo with ALS,
to send me comments of another nature. I can take it. I actually encourage it.
It’s a free world…express yourself, I do. But, thank you, nonetheless, for the
good-natured comments.
Continuing my obsession with dishes, today let’s take a look
at French faience. In particular, French green faience.
Definition of faience: [fahy-ahns] noun. glazed earthenware or pottery, especially a fine variety with highly colored designs.
As I mentioned the other day, my mother and I found, at the Parisian
flea market (Marche aux Puces), a rare set of 18th-century French green
dinnerware. We were at the flea market on the first buying trip for our antique
shop in Santa Barbara named, Circa. More on that later. Anyway, we saw the dropdead
gorgeous set of dishes in a dealer’s booth…but he was closed! Typical. There
was no way we were going to leave that booth without those dishes. So we
waited…and waited…and waited. My daughter, Gracie, was with us and she was
about to lose her mind waiting for this antique dealer to show up. What seventh
grader wants to sit around a flea market waiting for some Frenchman to finish
his lunchtime quiche and salad and 4th glass of red wine for the day,
only returning to begrudgingly sell her mother overpriced stupid green dishes?
The only reason Gracie didn’t shoot me on the spot was because we promised her
chocolate crêpes and a trip to Bonpoint in Paris for a new dress (obviously,
Gracie can be bought). We work on a bribery system in my household and it seems
to work.
The dealer finally showed up, opened up his little shop, and
invited us inside. This particular seller only deals in vaisselle (dinnerware).
His entire shop was floor-to-ceiling dishes. Dishes that you would commit
crimes for. The shop was so jam-packed that we could barely make our way
through…my favorite environment ever. I could have bought everything in the
store, but we were on a mission for those green dishes. The set was complete,
including dinner plates, salad plates, soup tureen, sauce boat, covered dishes,
platters and dessert bowls. They were truly remarkable and in perfect
condition. We asked the price. “Uhh, excusez-moi, how much did you say they were?”
They were a small fortune, but we bought them anyway. Don’t feel too bad for me,
I more than quadrupled the price when I sold them.
We had a private soft opening party for friends and family
for our shop. Within five minutes of the doors opening, the dishes were sold.
Sold, paid for, gone. I knew they were special. They were sold to one of my
favorite interior designers. A few months later, lo and behold, they showed up
on the cover of Veranda. This is a good lesson to learn to always go with your
instincts, trust your intuition, and stay focused on the prize.
So what’s the big deal about these dishes? I have tried to
do some research, but have come up short. There is not a lot of information on
them. Maybe a reader out there has more information? If so, please send it my
way. There is a sort of similar set available on 1stdibs.com HERE.
My mother was a
little depressed that we sold them so she then decided to find the next best
thing…a quality reproduction set that she could use as every day dishes. My
mother ordered them in green and a warm yellow from a pottery factory in the
South of France called Souleo de Provence, formerly Terre E Provence . The same
family of producers have been using the same method of manufacture since the 19th
century. The style she chose is called Louis XV. She ordered about 5 billion of
them, of course (I’m not kidding, I saw the old invoice today and she ordered
292 pieces). They are very heavy and the colors are super rich. You can order
them HERE.
Okay, because I’m not a total snob, I’m going to tell you where
you can also buy them fairly cheap, but only if you promise to mix them in with
your good stuff. There is a company called Le Cadeaux in Los Angeles that sells
these dishes in lots of colors, dishwasher safe, oven safe and virtually
unbreakable. I’m rolling my eyes as I write the word “dishwasher safe.”
However, they are not too shabby and will do the trick. You can buy them HERE.
More of my favorite dishes tomorrow… Hint: tobacco.
A toute!
I'm a new reader, and send BIG kudos on your truly unique blog. I hope the word spreads about it as your voice is colorful, informed, and important!
ReplyDeleteOk first of all, great story!…but secondly, that Veranda issue was one of my favourites and I saved it for a couple of years, until we moved. I still have one of the pictures though cut out in my inspiration book for our chalet and it totally directed the design. LOVE LOVE LOVE Small world:)
ReplyDeleteGreen is my favorite color and those dishes are truly beautiful. I really like your writing and your blog!
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing Ellie. Are you still able to type?
ReplyDeleteKeep dishing on the dishes. I have to hid them from hubbie when a new set comes in the house! He thinks we have enough, but it's like lipstick and shoes, you can never have enough!
ReplyDeleteKaren