This beautiful antique French hand-painted espresso service includes eleven miniature cups, eleven saucers, a large coffee pot, and a sugar bowl. Each piece is a charming example of Breton folk art from the HB-Henriot faience workshop in Quimper, Brittany. These cups are known for their vibrant colors and naive, rustic depictions of Breton figures in traditional dress, interspersed with floral patterns. Each piece is hand-painted, giving it subtle variations that reflect its artisan origins. The indented saucers are painted with floral and geometric motifs. The teapot also features an image of a Breton peasant woman and a floral design, while the sugar bowl features a floral pattern only. Made of glazed faience, the service is both collectible and functional, perfect for serving espresso or as a decorative element reflecting regional French heritage. The bottom of the dishes bears the stamp of the Henriot Kemper faience manufactory, dating back to the years 1893-1904.
Considering its age of over a century, the set is in good condition. There is a small chip in the glaze on the top of the sugar bowl lid (see photo), and there are also black spots under the glaze on all the pieces, associated with the relatively primitive production of that time and the use of coal to light the kilns for faience production.
Dimensions approx.
Teapot
Height 15 cm 5.9 inches
Width with handle 27 cm 10.6 inches
Diameter 15.5 cm 6.0 inches
Sugar bowl
Height 14.5 cm 5.5 inches
Width with handle 17.5 cm 6.7 inches
Diameter 12 cm 4.7 inches
Cups
Height 6 cm 2.3 inches
Width with handle 8 cm 3.14 inches
Diameter 6.2 cm 2.4 inches
Saucers
Diameter 13.6 cm 5.12 inches