19th Century Gien Faience Blue & White Russian Armorial Plate with Unicorn Supporters
19th Century Gien Faience Blue & White Russian Armorial Plate with Unicorn Supporters
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Item: 19th Century Gien Faience Blue & White Russian Armorial Plate with Unicorn Supporters
Additional Description:
A striking antique French faience plate attributed to Faïencerie de Gien, decorated in deep cobalt blue transfer on a white glazed ground. The plate features an elaborate border of floral sprays, scrollwork, ribboned reserves, and lattice-pattern detailing, surrounding a dramatic central armorial crest.
The center displays a crowned quartered shield supported by two rampant unicorns. The shield includes double-headed eagle motifs, a helmet or plumed helm, a six-pointed star, and a laurel branch with saber. Beneath the crest is a Cyrillic motto banner that appears to read “За верность, усердие и труды,” translating approximately to “For loyalty, diligence, and labors.” The heraldry closely resembles arms associated with Russian noble/aristocratic families, particularly variants connected to the Saltykov family, though the exact branch has not been definitively confirmed.
The underside bears a Gien-style castle/turret mark with ribbon flourish, consistent with 19th-century Gien faience production. A highly unusual and decorative piece combining French manufacture with Russian imperial/aristocratic heraldic symbolism.
Era:
19th century, likely circa 1870–1885.
History:
Faïencerie de Gien was founded in Gien, France in 1821 and became especially celebrated during the mid-to-late 19th century for historic revival faience, including Renaissance, Rouen-inspired, heraldic, and armorial designs. Gien produced personalized services for European noble and elite families, making this plate’s Russian-style crest and Cyrillic motto especially compelling. The unicorn supporters, double-headed eagle imagery, saber, laurel, star, and crown suggest a connection to Imperial Russian aristocratic or service heraldry.
Provenance:
French manufacture, likely Gien, France. Heraldic decoration appears Russian or Russian aristocratic in inspiration, possibly related to the Saltykov family or a connected noble branch.
Materials:
Glazed faience/earthenware ceramic with cobalt blue transfer decoration.
Dimensions:
— User to supply diameter.
Disclaimers:
Antique condition with expected age-related crazing, staining, utensil wear, and glaze irregularities. No crack noted by owner; dark linear areas appear to be staining/crazing rather than structural damage. Exact heraldic family attribution has not been definitively confirmed.
Item: 19th Century Gien Faience Blue & White Russian Armorial Plate with Unicorn Supporters
Additional Description:
A striking antique French faience plate attributed to Faïencerie de Gien, decorated in deep cobalt blue transfer on a white glazed ground. The plate features an elaborate border of floral sprays, scrollwork, ribboned reserves, and lattice-pattern detailing, surrounding a dramatic central armorial crest.
The center displays a crowned quartered shield supported by two rampant unicorns. The shield includes double-headed eagle motifs, a helmet or plumed helm, a six-pointed star, and a laurel branch with saber. Beneath the crest is a Cyrillic motto banner that appears to read “За верность, усердие и труды,” translating approximately to “For loyalty, diligence, and labors.” The heraldry closely resembles arms associated with Russian noble/aristocratic families, particularly variants connected to the Saltykov family, though the exact branch has not been definitively confirmed.
The underside bears a Gien-style castle/turret mark with ribbon flourish, consistent with 19th-century Gien faience production. A highly unusual and decorative piece combining French manufacture with Russian imperial/aristocratic heraldic symbolism.
Era:
19th century, likely circa 1870–1885.
History:
Faïencerie de Gien was founded in Gien, France in 1821 and became especially celebrated during the mid-to-late 19th century for historic revival faience, including Renaissance, Rouen-inspired, heraldic, and armorial designs. Gien produced personalized services for European noble and elite families, making this plate’s Russian-style crest and Cyrillic motto especially compelling. The unicorn supporters, double-headed eagle imagery, saber, laurel, star, and crown suggest a connection to Imperial Russian aristocratic or service heraldry.
Provenance:
French manufacture, likely Gien, France. Heraldic decoration appears Russian or Russian aristocratic in inspiration, possibly related to the Saltykov family or a connected noble branch.
Materials:
Glazed faience/earthenware ceramic with cobalt blue transfer decoration.
Dimensions:
— User to supply diameter.
Disclaimers:
Antique condition with expected age-related crazing, staining, utensil wear, and glaze irregularities. No crack noted by owner; dark linear areas appear to be staining/crazing rather than structural damage. Exact heraldic family attribution has not been definitively confirmed.