To commemorate the end of the French Revolution, post-revolutionaries planted trees to celebrate their freedom. This well-used earthenware faience patriotique plate with tin glaze was made in Nevers, France, in the late 1700s. It is made of red clay and decorated with polychrome enamels to emulate Chinese porcelain. The Liberty Tree depicted here reflects the patriotism of the French.
The underside of this plate reveals even more history, as over a dozen rusted iron staples still hold the damaged plate together after it was shattered more than 200 years ago. Plaster was used to fill the gaps that were left surrounding the tiny holes. To me, the unintentional overall pattern made by the staples on the underside are just as interesting as the design made by the artist on the front of the plate.
Tags: French, pottery, staples/rivets, tin glaze
I have followed your blog for a long time and love it. Another blog I check in on regularly has this which I thought might interest you.
Street Kintsugi: Artist Rachel Sussman Repairs the Roads with Gold
http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2017/02/street-kintsugi-rachel-sussman/
It doesn’t have anything to do with this blog entry in particular, but I couldn’t find your email address if you have posted it somewhere.
Thanks Lulu! Love what she does and glad she is making people conscious of kintsugi.