in the historic section of New York City's West Village on Bank and West 4th called Le Fanion, which means "the pennant" in English and explains their hand drawn logo of a woman in clogs and wearing a bonnet while holding a flag, but I'm not sure what it has to do with the gorgeous handmade pottery and antiques sold from the store.I'd passed the store many times over the years, but never had my passings coincided with their limited open store hours until two weeks ago when I hit them by chance at about four-o'clock in the afternoon on a Friday. Timing is everything!
What a treat it was to finally get in and be able to explore freely. Besides the sales woman I was the only one there. I felt simultaneously like a kid in a candy store and a mega-star who's had a shop closed down so the screaming masses won't bother her.
I quickly put down my two bags at the front because I was afraid of knocking a piece to the floor and began ogling and fondling all the handmade ceramics. Yum-yum--all manner of table settings--plates, bowls, cups, platters, pitchers, tea pots, creamers--candle sticks, tiles and small sculptures. Most of the pottery is from contemporary, working ceramists, but they also have some very pricey, antique pottery. As well they offer non-pottery antiques like paintings, salt cellars, some furniture and other items.
Unfortunately, the sales woman, who was nice indeed, knew next to nothing about the pottery or who made it. She finally explained to me after I'd barraged her with several inquiries, that she was simply a friend of the store owners, a couple if I understood correctly, who are from Provence, or who travel there regularly to purchase all the beautiful
goodies. They, she assured me, would have the stories for every piece. Happening upon it by chance as I did I wasn't prepared for a purchase, but I couldn't leave empty-handed and purchased one of these small, thrown mugs in blue with a fish carved on its face.
