Antique Creil French faience plate “Mort de Virginie” 23cm

This striking octagonal French plate is an attractive example of early 19th‑century Creil faience, combining neoclassical subject‑matter with the refined, monochrome decoration for which the factory is renowned. Measuring approximately 23cm in diameter, the piece is printed in a fine grey‑black transfer with the dramatic Roman history scene titled “Mort de Virginie. An de Rome 306 av. J.‑C. 391.” The image, after a popular engraved source, depicts the legendary death of Virginia in ancient Rome, her story widely retold in Revolutionary and Empire‑period France as an emblem of civic virtue and resistance to tyranny.

The well of the plate carries an unusually detailed central vignette executed in very crisp line work, characteristic of the transfer‑printing techniques adopted at Creil from the late 18th century onwards. Figures in classical drapery are arranged in a carefully balanced composition, with strong architectural elements in the background. The inscription beneath the scene is clearly legible and sharply printed, adding documentary interest and making this piece particularly appealing to collectors of historical or literary subjects on ceramics.

The broad, gently sloping rim is decorated with a continuous border of neoclassical trophies in the same restrained grey tone. These consist of winged medallions enclosing profile heads, flanked by bundles of arrows and lightning bolts, punctuated by smaller masks or cartouches. A double line in dark grey frames the cavetto and rim, visually tying the design together and emphasizing the plate’s distinctive facetted outline. The shape itself, with its subtly chamfered corners, is typical of French Empire and Restoration‑period tableware and adds an elegant architectural quality to the piece.

The reverse bears clear factory marks: a circular printed mark for the Creil works, together with impressed “CREIL” and painted workman’s or decorator’s numerals. These marks, in conjunction with the style of printing and subject matter, support a dating in the first half of the 19th century, most likely c.1810–1830, when Creil was producing fashionable services decorated with classical and historical transfers for the Paris market. Pieces from these services were often sold through high‑end Parisian retailers, as suggested by the mention of Paris within the printed backstamp.

Condition is described as good, and the images confirm that the plate presents very well for its age. The glaze shows an attractive network of fine age‑related crazing, together with the light surface scratches, small firing specks and minor wear to the rim commensurate with early 19th‑century use. There are no obvious major chips, cracks or structural restorations visible in the photographs, so the plate remains both displayable and sound. The graphic quality of the transfer is still strong, with no significant fading, allowing the scene and border to be appreciated clearly.

This Creil plate would make a significant addition to a collection of French faience, transfer‑printed ceramics, or neoclassical decorative arts. Its documented subject, attractive 23cm size and uncommon octagonal profile also make it suitable as a stand‑alone display piece on a wall or in a cabinet, especially in a scholarly or historically themed interior. For collectors who focus on narrative or “historical series” plates, the combination of Roman legend, Revolutionary‑era moralizing overtones and French Restoration manufacture gives this example particular resonance. Overall, it is a fine and evocative survival from the rich output of the Creil factory during the early 19th century.