Antique French Cafe-au-Lait / soup bowl – Terre de Fer (HB & Cie) – ca. 1880

For lovers of authentic French *brocante*!
This beautiful antique French bowl—a *café-au-lait* or soup bowl—is a stunning piece of history, perfect for your china cabinet or as a decorative accent in your kitchen. The bowl features a delicate blue floral pattern (transferware) and bears its original, authentic maker’s mark on the underside: "TERRE DE FER - HB & C¹ᵉ."

This indicates that the piece was crafted between 1870 and 1890 by the renowned factory of Hippolyte Boulenger & Cie in Choisy-le-Roi, France. Material: *Terre de Fer* (a durable, refined ironstone earthenware) Color: Cream/white with deep blue floral decoration Age: Approx. 130–150 years old (late 19th century) Condition: The bowl possesses a beautiful, weathered character, complete with the *craquelé* (crazing) typical of antique ceramics, as well as a lovely dark patina. Please note: the handle is missing from one side (see photos). This only enhances its cherished, imperfect *wabi-sabi* aesthetic, making it an ideal decorative piece—perfect for holding a small plant or serving as a unique storage vessel. It also looks exquisite displayed under a glass cloche.

You are essentially holding a museum-quality piece in your hands.

A unique and evocative fragment of French heritage!