Antique French Faience Plate, Vue du Palais Impérial de Versailles, Manufacture de Creil

Period
Circa 1820, French

Size
8⅜ inches across

An antique French faience plate printed in black with a view of the palace of Versailles, made by the Manufacture de Creil under the printing patent of Stone, Coquerel et Le Gros.

The center shows the palace's forecourt beyond an iron gate, the facade rising behind it, captioned below as Vue du Palais Impérial de Versailles, du côté de l'avenue de Paris. The rim carries the same griffin and lyre-form urn border as the Raoul plate, part of the same series.

The plate shows fading, staining, craquelure, and small chips consistent with its age. Sold as found.

Historical Context
In 1808, John Hurford Stone, Athanase Coquerel, and the printer Antoine Legros d'Anizy patented an underglaze transfer printing process for the Manufacture de Creil, and pieces carrying their printed mark date to the years that followed. Alongside its historical scenes, Creil produced views of France's major monuments and palaces in this period, drawn from published engravings.

Styling Ideas
Hang it, or set it on a plate rail where the engraving reads clearly. It pairs naturally with the Raoul plate from the same series.