Faïencerie Henriot-Quimper

Faïencerie Henriot-Quimper holds an extraordinary place in the history of French decorative arts, having produced hand-painted tin-glazed earthenware in the Locmaria quarter of Quimper, Brittany, continuously since 1690. Founded by potter Jean Baptiste Bousquet under a royal manufacturing licence granted by King Louis XIV, the faïencerie has survived three centuries of history to emerge as the sole surviving heir to the celebrated Quimper pottery tradition. Every piece produced at Henriot-Quimper is made entirely by hand, from the shaping and casting of the earthenware forms to the freehand decoration applied by skilled artisan painters whose confident brushwork depicts traditional Breton peasant figures, regional floral motifs, local seascapes, and Celtic-inspired geometric patterns. The factory shop at Place Bérardier, situated directly beside the workshops, offers a captivating selection of tableware, decorative objects, and the famous personalized first-name bowl — a Breton cradle gift tradition dating from the 1930s — as well as a unique collection of earthenware jewellery. Guided workshop tours run from April to September, giving visitors the rare opportunity to watch artisans at work. Henriot-Quimper holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label and is a member of Ateliers d’Art de France. The manufacture operates its own online boutique at henriotboutique.com, shipping worldwide, ensuring that the living art of Quimper faience continues to reach collectors and admirers globally. Limited-edition collaborations with contemporary artists are released regularly under the by Henriot programme, enriching a creative legacy that spans three and a half centuries.