Bucolic, simple, charming— Design Naif, by Villeroy and Boch.The name “Naif” is a tribute to the school of artists who emigrated from France during the mid-to-late Victorian period.
Villeroy and Boch describe the pattern more fulsomely: “When it comes to bright colours and cheery motifs, our Design Naif collection is unrivalled. The idyllic rural scenes were painted in 1980 by Gérard Laplau, a French artist who was instrumental in establishing the popularity of naive art. Discover something new every day – for example, with the plates and cups that reveal a total of six different designs.
Subtle and simple forms shape the Design Naif collection, setting a unique stage for the multicoloured scenes from everyday life in the countryside. The pictures radiate pure joie de vivre and really come into their own on the classically designed pieces.”
What could be more suitable for an outdoor, late summer breakfast?
I made some Nutty Fruity Sourdough Bread (a standby in our household, made from a recipe from King Arthur Baking) and rustled up a pot of unsalted butter sprinkled with Maldon Salt. A chicken-shaped basket holds eggs destined for an omelette or a frittata.
Green Jeanette Cherry Blossom glasses and Capri Buttercup large mugs await filling with juice and coffee.
Black twig flatware from World Market flank black and white watercolour gingham dinner plates from Pier 1.
The patterns on the six different Naif salad plates are colourful and eclectic. Four rural scenes are augmented by Noah’s Ark (why??? I have no idea. How exactly does a floating ark fit in with “scenes from everyday life in the countryside”)?
And Fireplace, a scene reminiscent of Christmas Eve (OK, that one makes some sense!)
Outdoor meals will soon be over for the season, so let’s make the most of them!
It’s been a wonderful summer, and I’m eager for fall, with cooler nights, crunchy apples and all the luscious braised food that comes with the changing season.
Let’s enjoy this final weekend in August. Next weekend is Labour Day, after which the kids in Canada return to school. Parents will be scrambling to fill backpacks and dig out the lidded containers for litterless lunches. Maddie, our eldest granddaughter, is going into Grade Six, and at the other end of the chain, little Riley is starting Grade 1. They’ll be in high school before we know it. Yikes!!
Dear Helen, Make the most of breakfast in the sunshine; we haven’t long. The plates remind me of Grandma Moses, and yes, the ark with a tree and birdhouse do seem out of place. The scorching August didn’t seem to slow the dahlias down (10″ blossoms–dinner plate, indeed!), and we still have some summer to go here in the Alps. But the kids are going back to school, the sun is lower in the sky, and the blackbirds have gone silent. “And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song…”**
** Eva Cassidy, Autumn Leaves
Beatrice, the Grandma Moses reference is excellent! I couldn’t put my finger on what the pictures reminded me of, but you’ve hit the nail on the head.
Glad your dahlias are thriving – it’s been a bit and miss summer for flora, given the heat.
Let’s enjoy the final days of a lovely, albeit very hot, summer.