#hannong

[merpmonde]

The Rohan Palace's faience collection

The Museum of Decorative Arts goes beyond being a kind of furniture showroom: there is also a large section dedicated to the art de la table, specifically faience dishes, bowls and containers (there's also a collection of artifacts found on the Cathedral's previous astronomical clock, but that's off topic).

These incredible dishes were made by the Hannong family throughout the 18th century. From cabbages and fruit bowls to entire birds or boar heads, they are works of art in their own right. I remember reading somewhere that these most intricate trompe-l'oeil dishes weren't used for actual food storage or serving, but I may be misremembering. Personally, I don't dare use Iwako erasers, so these would be for display only in my house!

Below we have a more practical dish, though still beautifully decorated and with lovely crafted handles made to look like branches.