Plate from the Limoges workshop of the 19th century

Dish from the Limoges workshop of the 19th century.
"The Conversation", from the mythological series.
Copper with cloisonné enamel.
It has some chipping.
Measurements: 20.5 cm (diameter).
Copper dish with blue and sepia enamels "in grisaille" highlighted in gold, which have their repercussion in the wing of the dish, decorated with mascarons, tendrils, scrolls and floral motifs. A scene set in the Greco-Latin world fills the background of the plate. It depicts three women conversing at the foot of a classical temple, a feature suggested by the pilasters and columns that act as a backdrop. The back of the dish is embellished with a portrait of a Roman emperor surrounded by fruit garlands, tendrils and foliate motifs.
Limoges enamelling has a long tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, in particular to the last painting of the 12th century. It was the most important enamel workshop in France, and owed its success in particular to its production of enamel-decorated objects in addition to the usual enamelled plates. Its medieval pieces had their own characteristics, such as a very shallow background dragging or a very fine partitioning for details, as well as an innovative chromatism that included new tones such as light blue-grey or white.