Dish (underdish for a tureen)

Art Historical Context

This elegant dish, crafted by Jean-Baptiste Guillib around 1735, served as an underdish for tureen in a luxurious table service. Made of faience—tin-glazed earthenware specialty of Rouen, France, it measures nearly 15 inches in diameter, perfect for displaying grand culinary presentations. Rouen faience makers like Guillibaud excelled in this medium during the early 18th century, a tin glaze to create a smooth, white surface that held vibrant colors fired at lower temperatures than porcelain, making it more accessible to the prosperous middle class and nobility. The dish's decoration, featuri...