Monique, the love of my life, had a well established perception of what she liked and didn’t like. And sitting in her cupboards was a part-set of unusual dishes, plates, etc.
As we set up home together in the 80s, this part-set was gradually pushed to the back of the top shelf in the pantry. Only in 2005 when we bought our apartment in Andalusia, did it then reappear, ready to make the trip south to warmer climates. I always felt that the design needed a sunny table setting to come alive.
Niderviller pottery
This part-set of majolica is the vintage “ecume” design from Niderviller pottery, a prestigious company that now no longer exists.
My guess is that Monique might have bought a table setting whilst working in Mol in the 1960s.
I’ve seen “ecume” translated as “sea foam”, and the colour described as “fawn brown”. I have also seen the same design in green.
The “ecume” design should not be confused with the “fauve” design, which can be found with a similar colour, but the design pattern is more like animal spots.
A few items have the earlier mark (left), but most have the later mark (right).
Our "ecume" collection
Our (my) little collection includes two large pie/tart plates, a large soup bowl with lid, a large service plate, one large oblong serving plate, four salad/dessert plates (20 cm diameter), and 10 similar sized “creux” (hollow) plates.
I know they made both a coffee and tea service, with accessories, and oyster plates with the same design and colour.
Recently I found and purchased 12 salad/dessert plates from an auction site, but I remain on the lookout for any additions that might popup in the future.
