Antique French Children's Talking Plate, H. Boulenger & Cie, Choisy-le-Roi

Period
Late 19th to early 20th century, French

Size
7⅝ inches in diameter

An antique French assiette parlante, a talking plate captioned in French beneath a printed and hand-colored scene, made by H. Boulenger & Cie at Choisy-le-Roi.

Two children are shown returning from fishing, a boy carrying a wicker basket and a pair of wooden shoes, a girl holding a fishing net on a long stick with a basket at her feet. The caption beneath reads "Il est fier d'avoir fait bonne pêche," he's proud of his catch. The rim is scalloped, and carries a printed blue border of diamonds set within triangles.

Two minor chips to the underside, not visible from the front, consistent with age. Sold as found.

Historical Context
Boulenger's Choisy-le-Roi factory operated under that name from 1863, and produced numerous series of assiettes parlantes through the following decades, genre scenes drawn from children's activities, military life, monuments, and popular sayings, each paired with a caption. A single engraved scene could be reproduced across many plates this way, which is part of what made the format such a common fixture of French tables in this period.

Styling Ideas
Hang it, or set it into a plate rail. It works well in a child's room or nursery vignette, or grouped with other assiette parlante plates on a wall.