Large presentation dish in Premières earthenware, Jules Lavalle (1860-1880)

Large circular presentation dish in grisaille-glazed earthenware depicting a lakeside landscape animated by boats and figures.
Premières (Côte d'Or) earthenware, Jules Lavalle period (1860-1880).
Signature "Pignant" in the decoration, stencil mark on the back "JL" with caduceus. Some firing defects.
Period between 1860 and 1880.
Dimensions: Diam. 45 cm, depth : 5 cm approx.

The Premières earthenware factory (Côte d'Or, France) was founded in 1795 by François Pignant, who was its director until 1823. The superior quality of its earthenware was highly acclaimed at the 1806 exhibition of French industrial products.
In 1857, Jules Lavalle, grandson of the earthenware manufacturer's founder, physician, botanist and politician, took over management of the factory. He set out to produce both fine earthenware and large-scale common earthenware. He collaborated with renowned artists such as Joseph Devers, Marie Pignant and others.
In 1862, he took part in the London World's Fair and received rave reviews for his work. As Marryat wrote on this occasion: "One cannot pass over in silence the cameos of M. Lavalle, de Premières, gigantic productions which denote in the author a surprising skill of hand and a thorough knowledge of technical processes".
Lavalle appears to be the first to have perfected a "crayon céramique" and specific modern processes for producing certain photo-like decorations.
This large dish is therefore a work of modern artistic vision by Jules Lavalle and his artists, who met the technical challenges of his time in the service of an art that has endured for centuries.
Source: "Faïenceries françaises du Grand-Est, Inventaire, Bourgogne, Champagne-Ardenne, XIVe - XIXe siècle", Jean Rosen, Éditions du Comité des Travaux historiques et scientifiques

Ref: K60EOBDVNU