White earthenware with moulded decoration of an image of Pomona, painted in colours and covered with a lead glaze. French, probably 19th century in imitation of Palissy-style ware of about 1600-1620.

Circular dish of white earthenware, with moulded decoration, comprising a representation of Temperence on a central, raised boss, surrounded by four cartouches containing Term figures, with representations of the seven Liberal Arts and Minerva. Coloured and glazed.

Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq.

Bequeathed by George Salting, Esq.
Moulded directly from a dish by Francois Briot - known as the Temperance Dish, Model I.

Historical significance: Like their metal counterparts, dishes such as this were intended for display rather than use. The personifications of Temperance, Minerva and the Liberal Arts reveal a familiarity with classical iconography and the use of such figures, on both metalwork and ceramics, can frequently be traced to contemporary paintings and engravings. In contrast to the more naturalistic 'rustic' ceramics, it is likely that in this instance Palissy used a mould taken directly from a metal proto-type. It is known that Palissy first used such techniques early in his career, in the production of 'médailles' moulded after bronze originals. This method was later applied to a wide variety of objects including candlesticks, plates, dishes and plateaux.
Palissy-ware became extremely fashionable in the nineteenth century and craftsmen, such as Edouard Avisseau, produced extremely competent imitations, along with objects of their own design.
Objects of this type were customarily commissioned for display purposes rather than use. This dish was inspired by Francois Briot's pewter 'Temperance' dish of ca. 1585-90 and shows the close relationship between metalwork and ceramic design during the sixteenth century.

Made in imitation of Palissy-style ware of around 1600-1620

C.2316-1910