12 Sarreguemines Earthenware Talking Plates, Napoléon Bonaparte, Mid-19th Century

12 earthenware talking plates with screen-printed decoration depicting military scenes from the Napoleonic epic (Napoleon Bonaparte). Sarreguemines manufacture mark on reverse. Very good condition, some design flaws in the slip. More photos on request.

Mid-19th century.

Dimensions: Diam. 18.5 cm, H 2 cm approx.

In the 19th century, the Faïencerie de Sarreguemines factory established itself as one of the major ceramic production centers in France. It is particularly noted for its "talking plates", decorative and utilitarian pieces whose illustrations are accompanied by captions, dialogues or short explanatory phrases. These objects, both popular and accessible, play an important role in disseminating images and stories to a wide audience.

Among the preferred themes, historical scenes are very popular, and more particularly those linked to Napoleon Bonaparte. Plates depicting scenes from his military campaigns with emblematic phrases, depicting key moments in the Napoleonic epic. These scenes are often treated in a narrative manner: we see soldiers in action, troop movements or decisive moments, accompanied by captions that enable the viewer to immediately understand the situation depicted.

These plates are not simply decorative objects: they reflect a form of popular pedagogy, telling history through everyday objects.