UNKNOWN POTTER, French
(active 1690s in Nevers)

Plate with Chinese decoration

1690s
High temperature faience, decorated in blue and purple, diameter 55 cm
Musée National de Céramique, Sèvres

Financial difficulties twice forced the French monarchy - in 1689 and again in 1709 - to melt down the crown's gold and silver plate. Few pieces of precious metalwork survived this disaster, but substitutes in fine porcelain were created. The ceramics craft was in full expansion, adapting its decorative forms to high-quality designs incorporating scalloped borders and scrollworks. The formerly Italian workshop at Nevers began producing Chinese-style faience, notably favouring monochrome blue decoration.




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