Sarreguemines Majolica Dish With Painted Decoration - "portrait Of A Young Man" - Dated 1881

Description: An exceptional circular majolica charger from the famous Sarreguemines manufactory, featuring a rich, hand-painted decor. The piece depicts a bust portrait of a young Renaissance man, wearing a wide purple velvet beret adorned with a gemstone-set brooch. The subject is shown with a pleated ruff collar and a heavy gold chain over a fur-trimmed garment. The background, imitating gold leaf, provides remarkable depth and luminosity to the work. The pictorial execution is of great finesse, particularly in the rendering of the gaze and the intricate details of the jewelry. This is a commissioned piece or an artist's original work on an earthenware support, typical of the passion for Historicism at the end of the 19th century.

Object Details:

• Artist: Signed "A. BOULANGER" on the right.

• Period: Dated 1881.

• Manufactory: Sarreguemines (Impressed mark "MAJOLICA SARREGUEMINES" on the reverse).

• Medium: Earthenware (Majolica).