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

Large circular presentation dish in blue-shaded enamelled earthenware representing a mountain landscape. Premières earthenware (Côte d'Or), Jules Lavalle period (1860-1880). Stenciled mark on the back "JL" with caduceus. Some firing defects in the basin.
Period between 1860 and 1880.
Dimensions: Diam. 45 cm, depth: approximately 5 cm

The Premières earthenware factory (Côte d'Or, France) was founded in 1795 by François Pignant, he was its director until 1823. The superior quality of its earthenware was very much noticed at the exhibition of French industrial products in 1806.
It was in 1857 that Jules Lavalle, grandson of the founder of the earthenware factory, doctor, botanist and politician, became director of the factory. He then undertook to produce art earthenware and a large production of common earthenware. He collaborated with artists sometimes renowned like Joseph Devers, Marie Pignant, etc...
In 1862, he participated in the Universal Exhibition in London and received glowing reviews for his production. This is evidenced by the comment written by Marryat on this occasion: "We cannot ignore the cameos of Mr. Lavalle, of Premières, gigantic productions which denote in the author a surprising skill of the hand and a thorough knowledge of technical processes".
Lavalle seems to be the first to have developed a "ceramic pencil" and specific modern processes to produce certain decorations close to photography.
This large dish is therefore a work relating to the modern and artistic vision of Jules Lavalle and the artists, thus meeting the technical challenges of his time in the service of an art that spans the centuries. Source: "French earthenware factories of the Grand-Est, Inventory, Burgundy, Champagne-Ardenne, 14th - 19th century", Jean Rosen, Editions of the Committee of Historical and Scientific Works

Ref: EBNBT9VD28