Plate with arms of the Poterat family

Art Historical Context

This elegant faience plate, crafted around 1710 in Rouen, France, exemplifies the city's renowned tradition of tin-glazed earthenware production Measuring 9½ inches in diameter, it the coat of arms of the prominent Poterat family— makers or patrons of Rouen ceramics—surrounded by vibrant floral motifs. Faience, with its glossy tin glaze, allowed artisans to mimic the sheen of Chinese porcelain while using affordable local clay, making it a staple in affluent European homes during the early 18th century. Rouen's faience workshops flourished in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, producing ...