Émile Gallé French Faience Whimsical Animal Plate, Late 19th C

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A wonderfully eccentric late-19th-century French faience plate by Émile Gallé of Nancy, circa 1880–1884.
The softly glazed octagonal plate features … Read more A wonderfully eccentric late-19th-century French faience plate by Émile Gallé of Nancy, circa 1880–1884.
The softly glazed octagonal plate features a whimsical anthropomorphic animal wearing spectacles and reading from a scroll, rendered in warm brown tones against a pale gray ground. The playful subject reflects Gallé’s early fascination with folklore, historicism, satire, and fantastical imagery before his mature Art Nouveau glass period.

The reverse is hand-marked “E. Gallé à Nancy / déposé,” indicating a registered Gallé design from his early ceramic production.

A distinctive and collectible example of Gallé’s lesser-known faience work, with strong decorative appeal for French, historicist, or eclectic interiors. See less