A French transfer-printed earthenware (faïence fine) plate by Jules Vieillard dating to the late 19th century. The plate features a hunting-themed design (décor de chasse) executed in a rich underglaze blue on a warm cream ground. The central composition depicts a stag looking upward amidst detailed oak branches laden with acorns, while the left rim is adorned with an asymmetrical motif of a hunting horn (trompe de chasse) enclosing a stag's head trophy suspended from a leafy branch.

Historical & Style Details

• Subject / Sitter / Source: Hunting scene with stag and oak foliage
• Artist / Maker / Author: Jules Vieillard
• Period: Late 19th Century (circa 1880–1900)
• Origin: France
• Material / Technique: Transfer-printed earthenware (faïence fine)
• Markings: Printed in blue underglaze to reverse "FAÏENCE ROYALE / PARIS"; impressed numeral "8" and letter "C" to base
• Decorative Details: Asymmetrical hunting horn trophy on rim, central stag amidst oak leaves and acorns
• Colour & Surface: Blue transfer on cream-glazed ground with light overall crazing and minor age-related browning
• Condition: Excellent antique condition with light surface wear, typical fine crazing, and minor localized staining to the reverse; no visible chips, cracks, or restorations

History

This plate is a classic example of late 19th-century French faïence fine tableware decorated with hunting motifs (services de chasse), which were highly popular for country estates and dining rooms during the Third Republic. The mark "Faïence Royale Paris" represents the high-quality earthenware produced or decorated in Paris during this period, capturing the rustic yet refined aesthetic of traditional French venery.