Posted 12 years ago
realthings
(10 items)
I got this beautiful Creil & Montereau plate from an estate sale for free. It was in a pile of of items that hadn't been sold and was going to be given to a thrift store. I did some research and figured out that the image depicts the title character. "Piccolino", from a French comic opera by Ernest Guiraud - who wrote the recitatives for the operas "Carmen" and "Tales of Hoffmann". I'm dating the plate at c. 1876 for two reasons. 1. that was the final year that Creil & Montereau had the L.M. & Cie mark and 2. that was the year "Piccolino" was first performed. Although the opera had a long run, it was never revived after 1876 -1877. I love the detail, the use of color and the overall beauty of this plate. Similar plates are in the collection of the Museum Gallé-Juillet in France.
Well you were in the right place at the right time! Well done!
Thanks! We were thrilled. We also got a wonderful art deco style maroon leather club chair from the 1920's for $50 at the same estate sale. It had been used in a doctor's office and needed some TLC but now it's gorgeous. Will post pics at some point.
I found my first LM&Cie plate this weekend at my favorite flea mrkt., didn't get it for free had to fork over a whole buck! Plate is 8"D, features B&w line drawing of Man about to scold guilty looking dog, weeping wife in background?? Starting my research here.