Vintage Henriot Quimper Trinket Bowl in Green and Yellow with Gorse and Heather

A vintage Henriot Quimper trinket bowl in French faience, hand painted with sprays of yellow gorse and red heather inside an Art Deco green border, signed Henriot Quimper on the base.

This is one of our favourite pieces of Quimper, because the design is so unusual. Instead of the familiar Breton figures, the centre is given over to two wild plants of the Breton coast: golden gorse, the emblem of Brittany, and little bells of heather in deep raspberry red, painted with quick, confident strokes on a buttery cream ground. Around them runs a band of leaf green edged with a jagged black and white geometric border, a very Art Deco touch, then a pink line and a glossy black rim. The outside is banded in pink, green and black, so it looks just as good from the side as from above.

Henriot was one of the great Quimper factories, and gorse and heather was one of its classic Breton decorations, painted freehand so no two pieces are quite alike. The base is painted Henriot Quimper with the number 70, and the colours are rich, with a soft sheen to the glaze.

The bowl measures 10cm in diameter and 3.5cm in height.

We love it on a dressing table for rings, earrings and hair grips, or by the front door for keys and loose change. It would also make a pretty salt dish, or a little plate for wrapped chocolates when friends come round. Propped upright on a shelf it works as a tiny piece of wall art, and it sits beautifully with green glass, dried flowers and other Quimper pieces. A lovely present for anyone who loves Brittany, French faience or wild flowers.