Plate From The Soldier's Circle 1917 With A Decoration Of A Children's Round, J. Montginoux - Brittany

Plate from the Soldier's Circle 1917 with a decoration of a circle of children.
Henriot Manufacture
Polychrome earthenware, marked "Nous irons toutes au bois, les lauriers sont coupés".
Signed J. Monginoux and dated 1917 on the back.
Plates from the Soldier's Circle (1917):
This series was initiated by Mr. Bulloz, deputy mayor of the 6th arrondissement of Paris. The municipality wanted to create art earthenware for a charity sale to benefit war works. The art schools of the capital were called upon to contribute. More than 220 models were collected. Only 12 designs were selected. Henriot was chosen to produce the plates. The order was placed in December 1916 for delivery on March 1, 1917. At the end of the first exhibition-sale on March 8, one hundred and ninety-seven pieces were sold. Given the success of the event, the town hall decided to hold another exhibition-sale on May 30. This second edition was honored by the visit of the President of the Republic and the Minister of Fine Arts. Purchases from the Carnavalet Museum, the Town Hall, the War Museum, etc. followed. This time, five hundred pieces were dispersed. A new edition in July 1917 was released, this one with pitchers, vases, fountains, candy boxes for a total of 18 designs. On October 27, 1917, a final order was placed with Henriot. America's entry into the conflict offered a new subject for the plate designs, and plans were made to exhibit them in Paris, Washington, and New York. A set of thirty-one designs on the theme of America would be presented at this exhibition. In total, eighty-four designs would be created, with more than a thousand pieces sold.