Dish thumbnail 1
Dish thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Dish

ca. 1855 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the mid-19th century the work of Bernard Palissy (about 1510-1590) was rediscovered and it became very popular. This encouraged a number of French potters to produce copies. They were at least as good as the originals, and often much more elaborate. Although the 19th century potters did not generally make them as fakes, later these copies became much confused with the work of Palissy and his immediate followers.

Delve deeper

Discover more about this object
read An A–Z of Ceramics As peculiar as some of the pieces themselves, the language of ceramics is vast and draws from a global dictionary. Peruse our A–Z to find out about some of the terms you might discover in our incredible galleries.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Enamelled earthenware
Brief description
lead-glazed earthenware plate in the style of Bernard Palissy, made by Joseph Landais, Tours, ca. 1855
Physical description
This oval plate has casts after nature and mottled purple, blue, brown and yellow glazes, in close imitation of wares made by Bernard Palissy from ca. 1540 to 1575. The outer edge forms leaves with lizards, while the river in the centre contains a snake and frogs.
Dimensions
  • Length: 53.4cm
  • Width: 42.5cm
  • Height: 8cm
checked for loan 04/10/2008
Marks and inscriptions
'L' (Marked with an 'L' and a squiggle, incised.)
Gallery label
  • Label for 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900', Gallery 101, de-canted March 2017: '28 Dish in the Style of Bernard Palissy About 1855 Shown at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1855 Bernard Palissy (about 1510-90) was an extraordinarily inventive potter. One of his techniques was to mould reptiles from actual specimens. He was rediscovered in the mid 19th century and became a national hero. This encouraged a number of French potters to produce copies of his work. The copies were at least as good as the originals, and often more elaborate. France, Tours; designed and manufactured by Joseph Landais Earthenware, painted in enamels Marked 'L', with an incised squiggle Museum no. 2815-1856'(22/04/2017)
  • 'American and European Art and Design 1800-1900' The plate, with its casts after nature and its mottled blue, purple, brown and yellow glazes, is in close imitation of wares made by Bernard Palissy from about 1540 to 1575. These and their maker were something of a cult in France from about 1850. The first to copy them, from about 1843, was Charles Jean Avisseau (1796-1861), brother-in-law of Joseph Landais, who was originally a modeller with Avisseau before setting up on his own. The plate was bought from the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855.(1987-2006)
Object history
The plate was bought from the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1855.
Historical context
The plate, with its casts after nature and its mottled blue, purple, brown and yellow glazes, is in close imitation of wares made by Bernard Palissy from about 1540 to 1575. These and their maker were something of a cult in France from about 1850. The first to copy them, from about 1843, was Charles Jean Avisseau (1796-1861), brother-in-law of Joseph Landais, who was originally a modeller with Avisseau before setting up on his own.
Subjects depicted
Summary
In the mid-19th century the work of Bernard Palissy (about 1510-1590) was rediscovered and it became very popular. This encouraged a number of French potters to produce copies. They were at least as good as the originals, and often much more elaborate. Although the 19th century potters did not generally make them as fakes, later these copies became much confused with the work of Palissy and his immediate followers.
Associated object
4068-1901 (Object)
Bibliographic references
  • Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 185177260X
  • Starcky, Emmanuel, Napoleon III et la reine Victoria: une visite à l’Exposition universelle de 1855, Paris: Réunion des musées nationaux, 2008.
  • Un bestiaire fantastique: Avisseau et la faience de Tours (1840-1910), Paris, Reunion des musees nationaux, 2002.
Collection
Accession number
2815-1856

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 30, 2000
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest