A faience tile with an armed putto

An 18th-century faience tile from Montpellier, featuring a blue-and-white decor. Montpellier blue-and-white tiles were formerly attributed to the Saint-Jean-du-Désert manufactory, given its extensive production of blue-and-white ware. However, archaeological excavations conducted in Montpellier in the late 20th century challenged this attribution. Subsequent research revealed that certain tiles previously linked to Saint-Jean-du-Désert actually originated from the Montpellier manufactory. The latter produced numerous blue-and-white tiles, inspired by Dutch Delftware, such as this example featuring a floral bouquet. It features a large medallion enclosing a putto, armed with a spear, a helmet, and a shield, in a landscape. The corner spandrels are decorated with undulating stems forming two interlaced “C”; this ornamental motif appears on several tiles produced by the Montpellier manufactory during the 18th century.

Period: 18th century

Dimensions:
Height: 13 cm
Width: 13 cm
Thickness: 1.9 cm

Condition: few chips