Dish

The dish is complete. It is octagonal in shape, with a plain outline. In cross-section, the dish has a narrow, slightly sloping wing with a rounded junction with the marli. The latter is inclined towards the center. The wall is curved towards the bottom, which is almost flat. On the outside, the wall is concave, extending from the edge to the bottom. The body is pinkish beige. The glaze is bluish-white; it is thin under the base and there is a thick burr under the outer rim. The enamel is missing around the edges of the dish, at the corners. The enamel is scattered with small holes, particularly on the reverse. Three traces of linear and triangular pernettes are visible under the marli. The dish has a central break, repaired with glue; the decoration is molded and hand-painted in blue. It has been traced (chatironné) in black and painted dark blue under glaze. The molded decoration is perceptible on the edge of the wing: it consists of a row of small gadroons molded in relief. The painted decoration is geometric and vegetal. It features a flower basket and compartmentalized braid. The decoration is painted on the inside of the dish, i.e. on the wing, on the upper part of the marli and on the bottom. The decoration on the wing and marli is tripartite, with two braids separated by a band. The decoration on the narrow wing features a row of broad blue lines. It rests on a thin black fillet, with dashed lines separating the bands. This row is separated from the inner braid by a wide band painted dark blue. The inner braid is outlined in black and painted blue. It is trimmed with two main sections and a third, shorter section, all repeated alternately. One of the sections is composed of a repeated reserve motif, the elements of which are arranged in a mirror-like fashion. The main motif, in reserve, is a central half-flower set between two scrolls flanking two wing-shaped quarter-flowers. The half-flower is partially painted in faded blue, while the others are adorned with black radiating lines. The other main section consists of a fish-scale section, made up of three rows of half-ovals outlined in black with an off-center core painted blue. Between these two main sections is a third, consisting of a half-flower outlined in black and painted blue. Painted at the corners of the dish, it is bordered by two blue-painted arcs, while the sides are in reserve. The central motif, at the center of the dish, consists of a wicker basket filled with flowers. The basket is truncated cone-shaped, with a flat swollen bottom and a horizontal swollen rim; it is outlined in black and partially filled with a latticework outlined in black and painted blue; the basket’s rendering imitates rattan. From the top of the basket emerge a central half-flower flanked by two aligned leaves; these are surrounded by leafy plant stems and grapes; all these trimmings are outlined in black and painted in blue, sometimes faded, with the exception of the lower leaves, which are adorned with radiating lines outlined in black. The central flower serves as a dividing line between the two areas on either side of this axis: the leaves and grapes within it are arranged in a mirror-like fashion on either side of this axis. The central flower is seen from three-quarters up, while the adjacent flowers are seen from the front. The basket rests on a sort of ironwork-like support, the elements of which are arranged in a mirror-like fashion. It consists of two acanthus leaves curved upwards and linked by a semicircular arch. Beneath the center of the support is a pearl, flanked by two plant stems curved in a semicircle and topped with pearls. These elements are outlined in black and painted blue.