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VV la liberté 1791: C.2328-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

VV la liberté 1791

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified Nevers pottery

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue, yellow, manganese-purple, and purplish-grey. The circular plate has a slightly wavy edge, a sloping rim, and a flat centre. It is decorated in the middle with a trophy comprising a bird-cage with an open door, a pastoral staff or crozier, a sword and a spade, accompanied by the inscription 'VV la liberté/1791. On the sloping rim there is a border of dotted festoons enclosing a stylized leaf bordered by a narrow line encircling the edge.

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter At Rim: 34 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Late
Louis XVI
Production date: dated AD 1791 : although dated 1791 the plate might be a year or two later

Note

Faïenciers responded to the French Revolution by producing pottery - particularly dishes and plates - decorated with patriotic slogans and symbols, known today as faïences patriotiques. Nevers, an important centre for the manufacture of faïence since the late sixteenth century, was a major producer. On this plate 'Vive la liberté (Long live Liberty) is accompanied by the emblem of the people: a crozier, a sword, and a spade, symbolising the three estates united in the defence of liberty, represented by the open birdcage. In September 1791 the King agreed to a new Constitution drafted by the National Assembly.

School or Style

faience populaire

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colours ( blue, yellow, manganese-purple, purplish-grey)

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.2328-1928
Primary reference Number: 73367
Old object number: 1323

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 20 May 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "VV la liberté 1791" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/73367 Accessed: 2025-12-05 22:41:18

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/73367 |title=VV la liberté 1791 |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 22:41:18|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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