French Antique Talking Plate
This talking plate produced by Gien depicts a man loaded up with luggage and household goods. In the background there is another man carrying a box on his shoulders. The caption on the plate read, ‘Ou Est Milady?’ or ‘Where Is My Lady?’ It appears to be a narrative about moving house.
Talking plates or Assiettes Parlantes were a fashion phenomenon of the 19th century. They became highly popular from 1870 to the beginning of World War 1. Development in the production of French transfer ware provided the ability for the transfer process to replicate finely drawn images in fine detail. They had the capability to produce vast amounts of the plates within a short time frame. Producers of talking plates included Sarrguemines, Gien, Choisy le Roi to name a few. Talking plates could also be referred to as ‘narrative plates’ because they were intended to tell a story. They were pictorial and were usually accompanied by a short description. They were often humorous and the themes were varied with subjects such as military life, hunting, manners, fables, proverbs, popular songs and ceremonial customs such as weddings. Usually made in a series of about 12 plates they depicted daily life. They were historical accounts portraying France in all its glory. Today, these talking plates provide a rich, historical and artistic insight into society of the time.
This talking plate is in very good condition. There is, what appears to be, a small chip on the upper edge. However, on closer inspection, it is glazed over and may be a manufacturing flaw. On the underside of the plate there is a Gien maker’s stamp. The plate measures 20 cms across.
This talking plate produced by Gien depicts a man loaded up with luggage and household goods. In the background there is another man carrying a box on his shoulders. The caption on the plate read, ‘Ou Est Milady?’ or ‘Where Is My Lady?’ It appears to be a narrative about moving house.
Talking plates or Assiettes Parlantes were a fashion phenomenon of the 19th century. They became highly popular from 1870 to the beginning of World War 1. Development in the production of French transfer ware provided the ability for the transfer process to replicate finely drawn images in fine detail. They had the capability to produce vast amounts of the plates within a short time frame. Producers of talking plates included Sarrguemines, Gien, Choisy le Roi to name a few. Talking plates could also be referred to as ‘narrative plates’ because they were intended to tell a story. They were pictorial and were usually accompanied by a short description. They were often humorous and the themes were varied with subjects such as military life, hunting, manners, fables, proverbs, popular songs and ceremonial customs such as weddings. Usually made in a series of about 12 plates they depicted daily life. They were historical accounts portraying France in all its glory. Today, these talking plates provide a rich, historical and artistic insight into society of the time.
This talking plate is in very good condition. There is, what appears to be, a small chip on the upper edge. However, on closer inspection, it is glazed over and may be a manufacturing flaw. On the underside of the plate there is a Gien maker’s stamp. The plate measures 20 cms across.
This talking plate produced by Gien depicts a man loaded up with luggage and household goods. In the background there is another man carrying a box on his shoulders. The caption on the plate read, ‘Ou Est Milady?’ or ‘Where Is My Lady?’ It appears to be a narrative about moving house.
Talking plates or Assiettes Parlantes were a fashion phenomenon of the 19th century. They became highly popular from 1870 to the beginning of World War 1. Development in the production of French transfer ware provided the ability for the transfer process to replicate finely drawn images in fine detail. They had the capability to produce vast amounts of the plates within a short time frame. Producers of talking plates included Sarrguemines, Gien, Choisy le Roi to name a few. Talking plates could also be referred to as ‘narrative plates’ because they were intended to tell a story. They were pictorial and were usually accompanied by a short description. They were often humorous and the themes were varied with subjects such as military life, hunting, manners, fables, proverbs, popular songs and ceremonial customs such as weddings. Usually made in a series of about 12 plates they depicted daily life. They were historical accounts portraying France in all its glory. Today, these talking plates provide a rich, historical and artistic insight into society of the time.
This talking plate is in very good condition. There is, what appears to be, a small chip on the upper edge. However, on closer inspection, it is glazed over and may be a manufacturing flaw. On the underside of the plate there is a Gien maker’s stamp. The plate measures 20 cms across.
