Embroideries and decorative objects of the Breton peasants.

Embroideries, Breton, peasants, Brittany, jewlery,
France 19th century. Embroideries and decorative objects of the Breton farmers.

FRANCE. XIX. CENTURY.

EMBROIDERIES AND JEWELLERY OF THE BRETON FARMERS.

  • Nos. 1 and 3. embroidery of the chupen. (Waistcoat without sleeves) of the Men of Douaruenez, Arrondissement Quimper. The ground of cloth; wool or silk embroidery; black velvet, but more often silk or cloth.
  • No. 2 Braces of the women of Guérande, arrondissement Saint-Nazaire.
  • Nos. 4 and 5. shirt clips for men and women.
  • No. 4 from Sainte-Radegonde, Arrondissement Fontenay-le-Comte; No. 5 with glass beads from Lesneven, Arrondissement Brest; the tassels in wool.
  • No. 6. engraved gold heart and cross: Ribbon in black velvet. Women’s jewellery.
  • No. 7. ring with cross, heart and anchor; women’s jewellery.
  • No. 9 and 12. shirt clips for both sexes; Sainte-Anne-d’Auray, Arrondissement Lorient, Département Morbihan.
    No. 9. pendants with copper plates; No. 12. brass wire, glass beads and wool tassels.
  • Nos. 13 and 15 Cocarden of Sainte-Anne-d’Auray, Morbihan department, as they put the women on the bodice and the men on the hat as a sign of pilgrimage. In the centre, a small mirror surrounded by copper wire and silk threads; the whole on openworked paper.
  • Nos. 14 and 16.
    Safety pins from Plonévez-du-Faou, Arrondissement Châteaulin: the head no. 16 made of lead; no. 14 coloured like enamel. Sometimes glass instead of woollen tuff.
  • No. 18 and 19. brass wire needles; glass beads and wool tassels, Sainte-Anne-d’Auray, Arrondissement Lorient, Morbihan department.
  • No. 21. embroidery of Rokedennou, (waistcoat); Ploaré near Douarnenez, Arrondissement Quimper.
  • No. 22. gouriz, leather belt, with engraved and chased copper plates; the leather is always freshly whitened. – Plonévez-du-Faou, Arrondissement Châteaulin.
  • No. 23. slipper embroidery; Riec-sur-Bélon, Arrondissement Quimper.
  • No. 25. braces from Kerlouan, Département Finistère, Arrondissement Brest.
  • No. 27. embroidery of a Justin; Fouesnant, Arrondissement Quimper.
  • Nos. 28 and 31. embroidery of a Chupen; Riec-sur-Bélon, Arrondissement Quimper.
  • No. 29. Silver or steel cross of the peasant women of Locmaria, Arrondissement Châteaulin.
  • No. 30. Embroidery of the Corquen (men’s waistcoat); Pont-Aven, Arrondissement Quimper.

Antique fibulae. Nos. 8 and 24. bronze fibulae found in the churchyard of Vertus, Épernay district. The antique fibulae are put together for comparison with similar modern jewellery from Breton.

  • No. 10. Fibula from the churchyard in Flavion.
  • No. 11 and 26. fibulae from the tombs of the Marne department.
  • No. 17. Bronze fibula; museum at Vannes.
  • No. 20. fibula found in Sérancourt, Bourges area.

Originals communicated by Mr Henri de Cleuziou.

Source: History of the costume in chronological development by Auguste Racinet. Edited by Adolf Rosenberg. Berlin 1888.

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