Vintage Charm on a Plate: Discovering the Obernai Collection
There’s a certain thrill in stumbling across a piece of history—especially when it’s something you can stack in your kitchen cabinet. For me, this adventure began on a sunny Saturday morning as I ambled through the marché aux puces in Narbonne. The air was thick with the mingling scents of lavender sachets and old wood, and the stalls overflowed with everything from tarnished candlesticks to mismatched teacups. That’s when I spotted them: a pile of plates that practically winked at me.
I picked one up and—boom. I was face-to-face with a slice of Alsace, lovingly painted by Henri Loux. The plates were bordered with tiny floral garlands, encircling lively scenes of village life. Farmers, bakers, and dancing villagers stared back at me as if daring me to resist their charm. I flipped a plate over, hoping for a clue, and there it was: “H. Loux”, neatly signed like a shy artist leaving their mark on history.
A Vendor with a Story
As I stood there gawking, the vendor, a wiry man with an impeccably knotted scarf, sidled up to me. “Vous aimez ça, hein? C’est Obernai,” he said, his voice full of pride. I nodded, unsure if he was about to give me a history lesson or pitch me his life’s savings in ceramic form.
“Henri Loux,” he continued, “a capturé l’esprit de l’Alsace. Chaque assiette raconte une histoire.” He leaned in conspiratorially. “Moi, quand j’étais gamin, j’ai mangé chez une tante qui avait toute la collection. Chaque invité avait une assiette différente. C’était comme un jeu!”
I could almost picture it—a room full of Alsatian relatives, each poring over their plate like amateur art critics. “Et maintenant,” he added with a wink, “vous pouvez faire pareil.”
How could I say no?
View some Obernai plates here!
Henri Loux: The Man Behind the Magic
Henri Loux was born in 1873, and he had a knack for making the ordinary extraordinary. When the Faïenceries de Sarreguemines pottery company approached him to design tableware, Loux didn’t just slap some generic pastoral scenes onto plates. He gave us snapshots of Alsace: a farmer hauling hay, women gossiping in front of half-timbered houses, children playing in fields. Every detail felt alive, like you’d been invited into a secret world.
The Obernai collection, named after a picturesque town in Alsace, became an instant hit. It’s easy to see why. These plates are little time capsules, capturing the warmth and simplicity of village life with a touch of whimsy. Whether you’re serving dessert or just admiring them, they’re impossible to ignore.
From Market Stall to Dinner Table
I left the market that day with four plates, each featuring a different design. As I carried them home, I started daydreaming about their debut. Would they look ridiculous next to my mismatched cutlery? Or would they, like a good wine, elevate everything around them?
The answer came that evening. I threw together a last-minute dinner with friends, pulling out the plates with all the fanfare of a magician unveiling their trick. “These,” I announced, “are Obernai plates. Look closely—they’re basically art you can eat off.”
One friend immediately began inventing backstories for the figures on the plates. “This guy with the hay? Definitely hiding a secret fortune,” she declared. Another friend suggested we rank the plates like contestants on a reality show. By the end of the night, the plates had stolen the spotlight—and I hadn’t even baked anything worth remembering.
Why Obernai Plates Are Worth the Hunt
Since that day, I’ve been hooked. I scour antique shops and online marketplaces like Etsy and eBay, hunting for new additions to my collection. Prices range from €20 for a single plate to hundreds for rare sets, but the real value lies in the stories they spark. They make even the most thrown-together meal feel like an event.
Obernai plates aren’t just for collectors. They’re for anyone who appreciates a good story, a splash of history, or the sheer joy of elevating the everyday. They’re a reminder that even something as humble as a plate can be a work of art—and that sometimes, art is best enjoyed with a slice of cake.
Your Turn to Fall in Love
So, if you ever find yourself wandering through an antique market, keep an eye out for those telltale floral borders and the signature of H. Loux. Pick one up. Imagine the lives it’s seen, the meals it’s held, and the stories it’s inspired. Then take it home and let it work its magic on your table.
Because really, who wouldn’t want a little piece of Alsace to brighten their day? Even if it’s just holding your morning toast.