They are the Naif Christmas pattern by Villeroy & Boch. And, yes, they are expensive. I first saw them back in 1985 at the V&B factory outlet in Luxembourg (a teeny tiny country in Europe between Belgium and Germany). (The flatware is Brahms by Oneida)
I lived in Germany (between Darmstadt and Frankfurt) and Belgium (Rhode-St.-Genese) for two years, working at a Christian missionary organization that made college-level Bible courses for many countries around the world. I worked in the graphic arts department, doing mostly typesetting, but picked up quite a lot of other skills while there.
One Saturday, some of my friends said they were going to the V&B factory in Luxembourg and would I like to go too. I had never heard of V&B, or Luxembourg for that matter of fact, and fell in love with all their patterns as soon as I walked in! The only thing I could afford on a missionary's budget was a small ceramic Christmas ornament and a tile trivet! Nonetheless, I was smitten!
These are a relish dish, I think, but I use them for sandwiches, pastries and snacks!A few years after I'd been back in the States, I found an incomplete 12-piece set of the Petite Fleur pattern at a yard sale for $25. One dinner plate is worth that alone! I was so excited, because that's my favorite pattern. Unfortunately, I lost most of them in our house fire (read about that here.)
Petite FleurSince then, I stumbled upon some Naif Christmas at Marshall's, or Home Goods - cheap! So I slowly built up my set with the help of gifts from my mother-in-law!
So now you've seen some humble photos of my dishes!
I'm mailing some of my Valentines today, but I'm not going to show them yet - I'm a tease!
