Originated in Nantes, France by Pierre Clairgeau in 1848 and introduced by Gillet to the Gold Country in 1876. In Gillet’s 1880 description, he said, “Fruit large, from 12 -18 ounces, pyriform, beautifully shaped, splendid flavor, buttery; tree very vigorous and one of the most productive of the Pear family; regular bearer. November to December ripening. The size, very early bearing, productiveness and beauty of the fruit, together with its ripening in early winter or late in the fall, render this variety one of our most valuable.” This variety was chosen by the Slow Food Ark of Taste in 2014 to be honored and saved for posterity. Makes a good canning pear, with excellent fresh and dried uses. Storage Pear. When the pear breaks off easily from the tree when it is lifted up. Store in a box in a cool area suffocated in cloth or paper. This allows for all the natural gas such as ethylene to ripen the pear, which reduces the astringency in the skin.

The grandmother tree is located at the original Gillet property, Barren Hill Nursery, on Aristocracy Hill in Nevada City at 2500'. This must have been a Felix favorite, as it is planted directly off his front porch - still growing strong, and often bearing large crops, without any nearby pollenizer pear. We consider it the prime variety still growing on his property.