Saint Hubert is the Patron Saint of Hunting and Hunters. The 3rd of November is Saint Hubert's feast day, it is celebrated across central and eastern Europe as well as in some parts of North America. Hubert was born to a noble family around 656AD, near Toulouse. Hubert married Floribanne, daughter of Count Leuvin. When Floribanne died in childbirth, in grief, Hubert retreated from the courts to the forests of the Ardennes and devoted himself full time to hunting. As Legend goes on a Good Friday morning, while other faithful would have been in church, Hubert was out hunting in the forest. While in pursuit of a majestic stag the animal turned and Hubert was astonished to see a crucifix floating...
De Bruyn Fives Lille The story of the majolica of Fives-Lille starts with Antione Gustave De Bruyn, a fourth generation potter who left Belgium in 1864 and moved to Fives-Lille, a community in the northern part of France.He started by building his own factory for production of clay pipes and whistles. Soon he expanded to include earthenware and stoneware for daily use. In 1887 the company catalogs included Art pottery and the newly popular Majolica. Majolica soon became a favourite choice for humidors, jardinières, vases and umbrella stands. The company' won a silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889. The company soon employed more than 300 locals, production included majolica, sanitary wares and art pottery. Their sucess...
Originating in Switzerland in the late 18th century absinthe is traditionally prepared with white grape spirit (eau de vie) and the herbs wormwood, anise and fennel.
Manufacturing of tiles here dates back to 1386, over the centuries it was alternately tile and then pottery, with ceramics for fine tableware appearing at Longchamp under the leadership of Claude Phal-Matiron around 1832.
The Petrin, or French bread dough trough, was a typical sight in the kitchens of France. In the days before it was easy to pop down to the local Boulangerie bread in France was made at home.
