Posted 8 years ago
JoeyC
(120 items)
Can you add to what I've figured out? It's an 8" plate backstamped with HB mark: Hautin & Boulanger ... Porcelaine Choisy Le Roi. Date this mark was used, can't find. The plate has a political cartoon whuch says HYMNE A LA PAIX = Anthem Peace ... and ... EXCUSEZ DU PEU (PEN) = No Less. Not sure about that translation. Don't understand the message. Lower left signed HN. There's a man ... cannons (on wooden bases), etc. -- That's as much as I can figure. Is it Charles de Gaulle? What is the message in historical context? Date? What do you think, World History and French experts? THANKS!
Thème : Hymne à la paix
Intitulé : Excusez du peu !
I think it is much earlier than de Gaulle ..... it is Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868). He wrote a piece known as 'Inno alla pace' aka in French 'Hymne à la paix' in 1850.
It is also known as 'È foriera la Pace ai mortali' ... a piece for a baritone, piano and male choir. The text was by Giuseppe Arcangeli.
The comment 'Excusez du peu !' is a French ironic comment - something like 'Better than nothing'.
I think they were not impressed with Rossini's attempt.
There are no bells, whistles .... no less, cannons!
Well that is my take on it.
Let's see what the others say!
THANK YOU vetraio50! I've been reading online all about Rossini, at least what I've found in English. So interesting. I was way off thinking a "political" figure. The cartoon then seems to be a commentary on music. Funny! Makes sense. So the plate dates sometime after 1850, depending on when it was performed and heard. Has anyone ever seen this plate before? It must be fairly uncommon. Again, thanks V-50!!!
I have seen another but with a more floral blue border.
http://passionfaience.canalblog.com/pages/les-objets-en-vente/25619671.html
I saw the other one with the different border; very nice! Thanks for the link. This item has been fun. Time to mark it SOLVED.
Thanks for sharing it.
I love the humour in these things.
Satire is powerfully cruel.