Oval Porcelain Plate

Period: First half of the 19th century, Restoration period
Origin: France
Material: Porcelain
Dimensions: L 35.5 × W 25 × H 3.5 cm

Combining elegance and historical memory, this plate commemorates a key moment in French military history, making it an exclusive collector’s piece, ideal for connoisseurs and enthusiasts of historic porcelain.

The central scene, striking and dramatic, depicts the French victory over the Holy League’s troops, overshadowed by the tragic loss of the young and brilliant commander Gaston de Foix at the Battle of Ravenna on April 11, 1512, as noted by the title on the back. The battlefield is set against a mountainous backdrop and a blue sky, capturing the tension and pathos of this historic moment.

The rim of the plate features a cobalt blue background adorned with a refined geometric gold decoration, interspersed with stylized fleurs-de-lys. Set within this frame are six portraits of illustrious figures, each accompanied by its respective name on the reverse, forming an elegant narrative border around the central scene.

The mark on the back—a monogram with the “L” referring to King Louis, accompanied by a fleur-de-lys—recalls motifs of the Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, reinterpreted in the Bourbon style of the Restoration.

The extensive use of raised gilding and polychrome enamel painting demonstrates an exceptionally high-quality work, intended for an elite clientele.