Plate thumbnail 1
Plate thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 1

Plate

ca. 1790 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This plate is an example of faience patriotique, a type of French tin-glazed earthenware decorated with images and mottos of the French Revolution (1789-99). Jugs, plates, bottles and other items with this type of decoration were made at pottery centres such as Rouen, Beauvais and Paris, but the vast majority, including this plate, were made at Nevers.
Faience manufacture was begun in Nevers by Domenique Conrade, from Savona, Italy, who founded his pottery around 1578. Originally inspired by Italian maiolica the potters at Nevers turned to Chinese and Persian ceramics for inspiration by the 17th century. In the 18th century Nevers also produced less expensive, brightly coloured wares which reflected contemporary society and culture known today as faience parlante and faience patriotique. This faience patriotique plate reflects the popular political allegiances of those who bought and displayed such wares in their homes.
Vivre libre ou Mourir (Live free or Die) was a motto used during the French Revolution. The battlements shown on this plate are often mistakenly attributed to the Bastille, here the image represents the defense of the French homeland.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Tin-glazed earthenware painted in colours
Brief description
Plate of tin-glazed earthenware painted in colours, Nevers, ca. 1790.
Physical description
Plate of tin-glazed earthenware painted in colours. In the middle are two turrets with troops visible above the parapet, and a blue flag on one tower. On the ground is a cannon with the inscription 'Vivre libre ou Mourir' above. Wavy rim with formal borders in blue and yellow.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 229mm
  • Height: 30mm
Marks and inscriptions
'Vivre libre / ou Mourir' (Inscribed on the left of the turrets)
Credit line
Given by Mrs Emmie Davis
Subjects depicted
Literary reference
Summary
This plate is an example of faience patriotique, a type of French tin-glazed earthenware decorated with images and mottos of the French Revolution (1789-99). Jugs, plates, bottles and other items with this type of decoration were made at pottery centres such as Rouen, Beauvais and Paris, but the vast majority, including this plate, were made at Nevers.
Faience manufacture was begun in Nevers by Domenique Conrade, from Savona, Italy, who founded his pottery around 1578. Originally inspired by Italian maiolica the potters at Nevers turned to Chinese and Persian ceramics for inspiration by the 17th century. In the 18th century Nevers also produced less expensive, brightly coloured wares which reflected contemporary society and culture known today as faience parlante and faience patriotique. This faience patriotique plate reflects the popular political allegiances of those who bought and displayed such wares in their homes.
Vivre libre ou Mourir (Live free or Die) was a motto used during the French Revolution. The battlements shown on this plate are often mistakenly attributed to the Bastille, here the image represents the defense of the French homeland.
Bibliographic references
  • Histoire des faïences patriotiques sous la révolution Champfleury (François-Fé Husson) Published 1867 by E. Dentu, Paris Ch IX.
  • Guilleme Brulon, Dorothee, Histoire de La Faience Francais: Lyon & Nevers, Sources et rayonnement, Editions Charles Massin, Paris, 1997. pp. 69-73.
  • Exhibition catalogue, Ceramiques Revolutionnaires, Roanne, Musee Dechelette, 1989. Comparable example. Plate - catalogue number 374 (coll. L. Heitschell) with same battlement scene, same shape body, inscription '1792 / vivre libre / ou mourir', ornate border decoration. No place of manufacture given.
Collection
Accession number
C.14-1919

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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