Large 18th Century French Moustiers Faience Charger, Blue Camaieu Hunting Scene
Additional photographs, measurements or a condition report — sent the same day. Call 305-975-0601.
If it is not as we described it, we make it right. Wrong dimensions, undisclosed damage, or any material misdescription — tell us within 7 days and we refund you in full, pay the return shipping, and charge no restocking fee.
- White-glove freight, quoted per order, room of choice
- In stock in Miami — no transatlantic wait, no customs
- To the trade: 15% on everything
A fine 18th century French faience charger from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie in Haute-Provence, painted in blue camaïeu. Marked C.V.
Hand-crafted and hand-painted, the centre showing a hunting scene within a circular reserve composed of circles and volutes, after the engraved work of the Florentine printmaker Antonio Tempesta (1555–1630). On the wing, a double net and lace frieze.
A note on the name. We previously listed this piece as Delft. That is incorrect and we have changed it. Delftware means Dutch tin-glazed earthenware; the French equivalent is faience. They are the same technology under different names — both are tin-glazed earthenware, and the names simply record where the trade in each was centred. This piece is French.
Tempesta’s hunting engravings were the source for a whole class of large Moustiers display platters, and the Musée de la Faïence at Moustiers records that some fifteen of his prints supplied the entire repertoire. The Victoria and Albert Museum holds comparable Clérissy-workshop dishes of similar size and subject, catalogued as after Tempesta engravings. These large platters — plats d’apparat — were made for display rather than for service.
On the mark. Clérissy-period Moustiers pieces were largely unmarked, and no recorded Moustiers mark corresponds to C.V. It is possible the letters are G.V., for the painter Gaspard Viry, whose documented signatures take that form; in cursive cobalt on an absorbent glaze the two letters are genuinely difficult to separate. We have not had it examined by a specialist and are not claiming a firm workshop attribution on the strength of it. We describe the piece as Moustiers, in the manner of the Clérissy workshop.
Measures: 23.63 in (60 cm) Diameter × approximately 1 in High
Very good antique condition consistent with age, materials and use. Slight hairline crack on the surface in the centre; remains structurally sound. Because it sits where a large flat plate flexes and where a hanging hook would bear, we would recommend it be assessed before hanging. See detailed photos.
Clérissy Faience Workshop, Moustiers
Founded circa 1679, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, France
- Founder
- Pierre Clérissy, c. 1679
- Location
- Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provence
- Signature ground
- Monochrome cobalt blue on white tin-glaze
The Clérissy workshop was the first faience manufactory established in Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, in Provence, founded around 1679 by Pierre Clérissy, who came from a local family of potters and is said to have learned the technique of white tin-glaze enamel from an Italian monk. From 1702 his son Antoine Clérissy joined and eventually continued the workshop.
Between roughly 1679 and 1730 the workshop produced faience decorated in monochrome cobalt blue on a white ground, early designs drawing on the engravings of Antonio Tempesta and later work influenced by Jean Bérain the Elder. Until 1715 the Clérissy family held the only faience works in Moustiers.
"Clérissy" covers work by successive family members and workshop hands across roughly a century of production; a piece marked or attributed to the workshop is not necessarily by Pierre or Antoine personally.
Biographical detail from Wikipedia.
Quoted per order, never estimated
Domestic freight
Every piece ships from our warehouse in Miami. Furniture travels white-glove with BMC International Freight, room of choice, subject to the carrier’s access at your address. Freight transit is typically 7–14 business days; we contact you to arrange a delivery window. Smaller pieces travel insured by ground courier.
International
We ship worldwide, quoted case by case. Tell us the piece and the destination and we will price crating, freight, insurance and customs handling for you.
Packing
Packed by hand. Fragile items are double-boxed with custom foam inserts. Glass and detachable elements are removed, packed separately and reassembled on arrival.
If something arrives damaged
Photograph the packaging and the piece before unpacking further, and contact us within 48 hours. We handle all freight claims directly and will arrange a resolution.
Returns
One day from delivery for a change of mind — buyer pays shipping and a 15% restocking fee. If the fault is ours, none of that applies: 7 days, full refund including your original shipping, we pay the return freight, no restocking fee. See our refund policy.
Request a shipping quote
We price the actual crate, the actual route, the actual service level, and send it before you commit.