The Museum's 60th birthday in twenty flagship objects
Celebrate the anniversary of Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau
It has been 60 years since the Musée de la Pêche in Concarneau invested its passion in sharing this regional, national, and international maritime heritage. For this occasion, we invite you to discover 20 flagship objects in its collection, selected from the permanent exhibition and archives.
1. First object acquired by the museum in 1961
The Mercator leaving the port
This print on paper was created based on a board of the book Pêcheurs des Quatre Mers by Roger Vercel, 1957, illustrated by Marin-Marie. Thanks to the support fund of Concarneau, this poster was published in support of the families of sailors lost at sea.
Maquette du musée (1987/1988) by Anh Gloux (atelier du musée)Musée de la Pêche
2. Model of the museum in 1987
Created based on a gouache by Hervé Gloux, this model represented the museum at exhibitions and maritime events. All the areas of the museum can be seen, as well as the so-called "floating museum", with a few boats docked in the port.
We can see on the left the governor's tower, which looks directly over the port.
Machine à coudre La Comtesse (1889/1952) by Etablissement Beyroux, ParisMusée de la Pêche
3. The La Comtesse sewing machine
This monumental machine comes from the sailmaker Barzic de Concarneau.
There are only 64 machines of this model.
This copy dates from 1952. It is used to sew the widths (of a strip of canvas) constituting a sail.
Demi-coque du Rio del Oro (1960/1979) by Chantier Auguste Tertu, Rostrellec (Crozon)Musée de la Pêche
4. Half hull of the Rio del Oro
Before becoming a decorative object in the past few years, the half hull was first and foremost a work tool. It was used as a model and plan for the marine carpenter to create an outline of the boat. This one is for a motorized lobster boat built in 1960.
5. Concarneau in the 17th century
This diorama, which was retrieved especially from the archives in 2021, was created based on an engraving by Johann Peeters depicting the town of Concarneau. At the back, you can see the Ville Close.
Presse à sardines (vers 1928)Musée de la Pêche
6. Sardine press
This British press comes from the cannery The Pilchard Works in Cornwall, England. Pressing consists of removing the oil from the fish after it has been salted. This oil is then used for clarification. It takes on average 10 to 12 days to press.
Annexe de sardinier du Guilvinec (1930/1973)Musée de la Pêche
7. Sardine workboat from Guilvinec
Workboats could be used during fishing to throw the bait intended to attract the sardines. They were also used to access larger sardine boats from the port. Small fishermen sometimes only had this type of boat as a vessel.
8. The Armorique, lobster boat
This is a model of a boat built in 1962 in Camaret. This boat fished for pink lobster on the Banc d'Arguin, in Mauritania, from 1963 to 1990.
Maquette de l'ArmoriqueMusée de la Pêche
Râteau à coquillages (2e moitié du XXe siècle)Musée de la Pêche
9. Shell rake
Probably designed to fish for tellines (small bivalve mollusks), this type of rake lets through smaller shells. This one was made with a wooden handle attached to a semicircular mesh cage with 11 spokes at the end.
La pêche à la sardine au filet tournant ou bolinche (1981/1981) by Atelier du muséeMusée de la Pêche
10. Sardine fishing using an encircling net
Also known as bolinche (purse seine), this type of net is mainly used to fish for sardine and allows a shoal of sardines to be surrounded quickly with the help of a large rectangular net. This diorama is a reconstruction of this method of fishing.
Vêtements de pêcheur et sardinièreMusée de la Pêche
11. Clothing belonging to fishermen and sardine workers, or Penn Sardin
Traditional clothing worn in South Finistère.
Costume de Penn SardinMusée de la Pêche
The Penn Sardin
The term Penn Sardin was first given to the fish cannery workers of Douarnenez and then Concarneau. The outfit consists of a cap, a white and black bonnet, a blouse, a black skirt, a white apron, and clogs.
Vêtements de pêcheurMusée de la Pêche
Fisherman
This fisherman's clothes are classic and timeless. Over a sweater, the man wears a tunic, a neckerchief, trousers, clogs, and a beret.
12. Photo of a mariner's shelter
From 1900 to 1985, mariner's shelters were locations destined to welcome fishermen and offer them the chance to relax, learn, or take shelter from storms.
This photograph was taken at a meeting in the mariner's shelter of Ile de Sein.
Bouée-culotte (XXe siècle)Musée de la Pêche
13. Breeches buoy
This type of buoy was attached to a go-between system on a large rope and was used to transport guardians from ships to lighthouses, or to evacuate sailors in danger.
14. Trawler fishing
This diorama allows us to compare two types of trawler fishing: pelagic fishing on the Kristel Patrick (left) and bottom trawling aboard the Hémérica (right).
15. Tin can, yoyo, diabolo
When, at auction, two wholesalers or fishmongers bid on a lot of fish or seafood for the same price, the auctioneer shook this tin can. The ball, white or black, indicated who could buy the lot of fish or seafood.
Raie transformée ou Jenny Haniver (XIXe-XXe siècles)Musée de la Pêche
16. Jenny Haniver
Created from the preserved carcass of a ray, cut and folded, this type of fake animal was generally made by mariners. The name Jenny Haniver may have come from a deformation of Jeune d'Anvers, an expression that describes North Sea mariners.
Vitrine de Jenny HaniverMusée de la Pêche
Jenny Haniver displayed in the museum
Bouées couronnes ex-voto (1950/1988)Musée de la Pêche
17. Crown buoys ex-voto
An ex-voto is an object placed in a religious building to request grace, give thanks, or in memory of a tragic event. These are four buoys (of 15) from shipwrecks of boats registered in Concarneau between 1945 and 1963.
Kerz Atao (1984/1984) by Joël Barzic, Hervé Andro, Pierre Massot, Hervé Gloux, Philippe Le Coz (atelier du musée)Musée de la Pêche
18. Kerz Atao, dundee tuna boat
1:6 scale model The Kerz Atao was built in 1927 in the Fareman shipyard of Concarneau to fish for tuna. This model has one closed side (the hull is completed) and the other open, showing the structure and the interior design.
Kerz Atao (1984/1984) by Joël Barzic, Hervé Andro, Pierre Massot, Hervé Gloux, Philippe Le Coz (atelier du musée)Musée de la Pêche
The closed side of the Kerz Atao
Jumelles (1970/1986)Musée de la Pêche
19. Unmissable binoculars
Aboard tuna seiners, fishermen sometimes used a very powerful pair of binoculars to spot shoals of tuna. The seine is a net that encircles and closes around the fish.
Most recent object acquired by the museum in 2021
Médaille d'argent pour le Sauvetage de l'équipage du bateau Coppolani (1914-01-06)Musée de la Pêche
20. Silver medal for rescue
In recognition of the rescue of the crew of the lobster boat Coppolani in the night of November 11 and 12, 2013, the captain of the Jeanne d'Arc received a silver second class Honor Medal.
