The Postcard
A postally unused Cotman-Color Series postcard that was printed in Great Britain by Jarrold & Sons Ltd. of Norwich. They state on the back that the image is a real colour photograph which in fact it isn't.
The card was published by British and Overseas Wholesale Sales Ltd. of 44, Esplanade, St. Helier, Jersey, C. I.
The following information has been printed on the divided back of the card:
"The Little Chapel, Les
Vauxbelets, Guernsey, C. I.
Two previous chapels were
built on this site before the
present one which was begun
in 1923.
All three chapels were the
inspiration of Brother Déodat
of the de la Salle Brothers
who built them with his own
hands.
The inside is decorated with
thousands of pieces of broken
china sent from all over the
world, and contains an altar
with a small Madonna".
The Little Chapel
The Little Chapel is situated in the Les Vauxbelets Valley, Saint Andrew, Guernsey.
It was created in 1923, by Brother Déodat. He planned to create a miniature version of the grotto and basilica at Lourdes, the Rosary Basilica.
History of the Chapel
The chapel was originally built by Brother Déodat in March 1914 (measuring 9 feet long by 4.5 feet wide). After taking criticism from other brothers, principally because of its small size, Déodat demolished the chapel.
He finished a second chapel in July 1914 (measuring 9 feet by 6 feet). However, when the Bishop of Portsmouth visited in 1923, he could not fit through the door, so Déodat demolished version number 2.
The third and current version of the chapel started soon after the last demolition, and measures 16 feet by 9 feet. These dimensions provide room inside for around eight people.
Déodat went to France in 1939 and died there, never having seen his chapel finished.
In 1977, a committee was established to restore the chapel, and today it falls under the care of Blanchelande College.
In 2010, five stained glass windows were smashed, causing £3,000 worth of damage and leading to condemnation of the vandals. The windows had been smashed previously, notably three times in 2003.
The chapel has been described as "probably the biggest tourist attraction in Guernsey", and "intricate".
In late 2013, there was major work on the overgrowth which was, in places, hiding parts of the chapel.
In November 2015 the chapel was closed to allow some major structural work to be undertaken. The works included underpinning the building, stabilising the foundations and weatherproofing the building.
Fully open again to the public in April 2017, the major works such as stabilising the foundations are now complete. However, additional fundraising is needed to finish the final phase of renovation which will have cost in total over £500,000.
Decoration of the Chapel
The chapel is decorated with seashells, pebbles, and broken china. One visitor noted:
"From a distance the colours and design
make a pleasing whole, close-up it's
amazing to see all the different pieces
used to create the effect."
The chapel was brought sudden fame following a Daily Mirror article, and this led to islanders donating coloured china; the Lieutenant-Governor of the island offered mother of pearl, and other gifts came from around the globe.
According to Mosaic Art Source:
"Pieces of broken pottery, china, glass, buttons,
figurines, and jewelry are cemented onto a base
to create a new surface.
Almost any form can be used as a base, and any
combination of pieces can be applied, restricted
only by the individual creator's imagination."
The mosaic style is "pique-assiette" or "picassiette" (a French term based on a pun blending pique-assiette - literally, plate-pincher, the sort of person crashing into a party to enjoy a free meal - and the name of the famous artist Pablo Picasso).
The style was the nickname of a French Art Brut artist, Raymond Isidore, who decorated his house near Chartres, known as Maison Picassiette, much in the same style as the Little Chapel.
The Little Chapel features in the game Guernsey Monopoly, part of the Monopoly board game series, which was released in 2013.