The condition of this piece is astounding give its age of approximately 238 years. There are a few wear marks in the glaze (not the plate) on the edges. This Grand feu (see below) plate was made in 18th century, most likely in Nevers, the French faience production region. Because of the subject matter there is a good chance this was done in 1783. On this plate is painted a man in a balloon with propellers. Many artists at that time were inspired by the launch of the Montgolfier Brothers balloon (see below). Many plates were painted to commemorate the occasion. This one seems to be one of a kind. I have scoured research material to try to identify the artist without success. The plate is unmarked. French tin-glazed earthenware production started in the city of Nevers. The first factory was established around 1588 by three Italian brothers who brought here the technology of majolica. The term faience first appeared in Nevers in the early 17th century. The source of this word comes from the expression “vaisselle de fayence” derived from Italian city Faenza was shortened to the single word “fayence”. The success of Nevers faiences led to establishing new production centers in other French cities. 18th century was a golden era for faience production. Economic problems caused by the French Revolution and growing porcelain production ended French faience expansion. The Montgolfiers sent a hot air balloon with the first living creatures (a sheep, a duck and a rooster) aloft from Versailles on September 19, 1783. The flight lasted 8 minutes and was witnessed by the French king, Marie Antoinette and a crowd of 130,000. French faience is typically divided into two types. Grand feu (high fire) describes pieces that have been decorated with glaze and metallic oxides before being fired a single time at a high temperature of around 1650°F (900°C). Petit feu (low-fire) faience, developed in the second half of the eighteenth century, refers to a process whereby the clay body is fired before being glazed and decorated with metallic oxides and then fired again at a lower temperature; pieces can also go through a third firing. This plate falls in the Grand feu category. Grand feu pieces have a more limited color palette that consists of blue, yellow, brown-purple, and green. By contrast, the lower firing temperature of petit feu faience enabled both greater precision in painting techniques and variety in the range of colors. Much of the information above came from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The item “Nevers Faience Grand Feu Earthenware Plate 18th Century Balloon” is in sale since Saturday, October 30, 2021. This item is in the category “Pottery & Glass\Cookware, Dinnerware & Serveware\Plates”. The seller is “shastacc” and is located in Milton, Delaware. This item can be shipped worldwide.

• Production Technique: French faience
• Country/Region of Manufacture: France
• Department: Adults
• Style: French faience
• Product Line: None
• Material: Ceramic
• Theme: Hot Air Balloon
• Plate Diameter: 9″
• Type: Plate
• Features: Commemorative
• Antique: Yes
• Color: Multi-Color
• Vintage: Yes
• Origin: Nevers, France
• Occasion: All Occasions
• Brand: Unbranded
• Production Style: Faience Pottery
• Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
• Time Period Manufactured: 1750-1799
• Era: Georgian (1714-1837)
• UPC: Does not apply
• Original/Reproduction: Antique Original