Plate 1800 - 1825

This earthenware plate, produced by the Montereau Pottery between 1800 and 1825, depicts a scene from Aesop's Fables, "The Lion, the Ape, and the Two Asses". The image, printed in brown, shows a lion, an ape, and two donkeys. The plate's border is decorated with a repeating pattern of houses, trees, and other stylized elements. The text "Le Lion, le Singe, et les Deux Anes" appears on the bottom of the plate, confirming the fable depicted. The plate is a fine example of French earthenware production, now in the collection of The Art Institute of Chicago.