A Rare Hand-painted 18th Century Earthenware Plate Decorated with a Peacock and Flowers from the Varages Pottery Factory

A rare hand-painted 18th century earthenware plate decorated with a peacock and flowers from the Varages pottery factory with blue x mark on the base.

Faience, or tin-glazed and enameled earthenware, first emerged in France during the sixteenth century, reaching widespread usage among elite patrons during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, prior to the establishment of soft-paste porcelain factories. Although characterized as more provincial in style than porcelain, French faience was used at the court of Louis XIV as part of elaborate meals and displays, with large-scale vessels incorporated into the Baroque garden designs of Versailles.

Condition: There is a  very fine crack and four very small chips to the outer edge.

23 cm diameter