Identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a charming hand-painted French tin-glazed earthenware (faience) demitasse cup and saucer set. It features a rustic, folk-art style sunflower motif rendered in warm yellows, earthy browns, and vibrant greens, framed by delicate blue floral accents and a yellow rim band.
Story
Produced by HB Quimper in Brittany, France, this piece reflects a centuries-old tradition of tin-glazed earthenware (faience). The factory is renowned for its hand-painted, folk-art style ceramics, often featuring regional Breton figures or vibrant floral motifs like this sunflower pattern. Pieces from the mid-20th century represent a prolific period of export for the company.
Maker / Origin
Unattributed
Condition & Value
Based on the provided description, the cup and saucer appear to be in good vintage condition with bright, intact hand-painted colors. Faience is prone to edge chipping and glaze flaking due to its soft earthenware body; any unmentioned flea bites or hairlines along the rim would negatively impact the value.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
The secondary market for mid-20th-century French faience remains steady, primarily driven by collectors of rustic European ceramics and country-style home decor. Single demitasse sets move moderately well on broad online marketplaces like eBay and Etsy, though they often require patience compared to larger dinnerware pieces. Buyers are generally looking for clean, undamaged examples with bright, un-faded hand-painted motifs.
▲ Recognizable HB Quimper hand-painted faience aesthetic appeals to dedicated collectors.
▲ Vibrant, intact yellow and green glaze colors present well for display.
▲ Complete cup and saucer pairing retains standard market value.
▼ Unverified base marks — absence of standard HB Quimper signatures would reduce buyer confidence.
▼ Hidden rim chips or glaze flakes — common in soft-paste faience and heavily discounts value.
Best Venue
List the set on a broad secondary marketplace like Etsy or eBay, targeting buyers of French country decor. An optimistic asking price of $75-$80 leaves room for offers, while a fast-sale posture would price the set closer to $45. Ensure the listing includes clear, well-lit photos of the maker's marks on the underside of both pieces to confirm attribution.
Upside Potential
If the underside reveals an earlier, rarer factory mark (such as an early 20th-century HR Quimper mark rather than a standard mid-century HB mark), the value could push toward the $80-$100 collector tier.