Round dish with lobster and shells 1865 - 1880

This round ceramic dish, created by Thomas-Victor Sergent between 1865 and 1880, depicts a lobster surrounded by a multitude of realistically rendered shells and other marine life. The dish, now held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of 19th-century French ceramic art. The intricate detail and vibrant colors of the glazed surface bring the underwater world to life, showcasing Sergent's skill as a ceramicist. The dish's size, at just under 12 inches, suggests it was intended as a decorative piece rather than a functional one. The decorative nature of the piece, with its detailed and colorful imagery, aligns with the prevailing tastes of the period.