Dish - Pottery - Nevers, 18th century

This dish is an extraordinary historical document. It is a French revolutionary patriotic faience plate, produced by the famous Nevers Manufactory (or its basin, such as Ancy-le-Franc) "à gran feu". In the center is depicted a National Guard soldier in uniform, armed with a rifle and bayonet, beside a military guard post. Next to him rises a Tree of Liberty, one of the Revolution's most important symbols, topped by the distinctive red Phrygian bonnet (bonnet phrygien or bonnet rouge) and adorned with ribbons and tricolour flags. The painted inscription on the bottom reads "Jean Saudevien 1795". In 18th-century Nevers there was a tradition of 'patronimic' or 'speaking' plates, made to order to celebrate the owner's name (in this case, Jean Saudevien) tying it to pride in the republican ideals of 1795 (Directory Period). The wavy rim features the classic geometric chain and interwoven multicolored decoration (blue, yellow‑orange and brown), typical of the popular late 18th‑century Nevers style. The plate shows the characteristic brown edge chipping and the era’s flaws that confirm the nature of the 18th‑century terracotta and the authenticity of the glaze. Private collection Medici Ottolin. The packaging will be extremely careful.