Monday, 18 August 2025

Dimanche Le 17 Aout #2







 After lunch , a walk around La Borne village.
















And a visit to a small museum/gallery in a beautiful little old church 


The big bowl may be related to vinegar production, but most of the usual historical display wasn't out


These were described as Fountains ...but the heads are lids ( I have read elsewhere a description of the exhibition) and there is a hole at the foot.. possibly for a tap..it could be a Vinaigriere? 





Beautiful sculpted hands by a different maker

Older artisanal work not officially on display!


But still beautiful 








This is a roof finial

And a highly decorated jar.

Then a long drive back... slightly longer but a faster road, but starting at 3pm there was far more traffic than the morning. However nothing to the amount of traffic streaming north at the end of their holidays!

We had a stop on an Aire...much needed shade in the middle of a parched prairie of stunted sunflowers and stubble. 

We passed some irrigation pools..with nothing but a little vegetation in the bottom...and great rivers reduced to not much more than a trickle...

There may be rain this week...which would be good, at long last. Of course the 4 day cycling race Tour de Limoges starts on Tuesday....

18 comments:

Bovey Belle said...

Some interesting ceramics there - inspiration perhaps? Ah, and a cycling race . . . now I know why you're there!

JayCee said...

Beautifully made objects used for quite an ordinary day to day purpose.
I love those animal figures scattered around on the houses too.

gz said...

Surprisingly not! We just both have been very active all our lives in different fields of the cycling world . And if there is a local race we can easily watch ..

northsider said...

I am enjoying your trip.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Charming village details. Love the antique pottery and ceramics, especially Les Fontaines!

smartcat said...

What an amazing place, well worth the travel time and hassle of to and from.
Is the stop sign unique? Or are all stop and other signs in English? Curious minds wish to know.🤭

Anonymous said...

What great photos! I enjoyed your eye for detail outside and in.

Steve Reed said...

Lots of beautiful clay work! I like the roof finials and the "fountains" are terrific, whatever they were for. That mouse sculpture in the wall recess is very curious.

Susan said...

La Borne seems to carry a very high profile for ceramics. Is this one of the main sources for tourism and jobs in the area?
You must be having a grand time traveling with your friend.

angela said...

Some beautiful works. I’ve wondered ,occasionally, about trying to make things with clay. Then I remember that I have no upper body strength and my shoulders would pop out. I definitely loved the eyes in the guttering.
If I ever find some I just might add them to mine

Debby said...

Exactly what I came to ask: the figurines on the roof. Do they have a history or a purpose or are they simply there to amuse and delight?

Catalyst said...

An interesting village with ceramics everywhere.

gz said...

Their purpose is a roof finial...but they also amuse and delight! Some are as old as the houses

gz said...

You don't have to be strong..and you don't have to throw on the wheel....

gz said...

Yes it is...but it has been a centre for pottery for thousands of years

gz said...

And the play on words...

gz said...

No other signs in English, apart from some in several languages for tourists and foreign lorry drivers

Elderberry-Rob said...

love the clay mice