19th Century Set of 6 French Majolica Plates From Choisy-Le-Roi, Humour Playing Cards

Description

An amazing and rare set of six Choisy le Roi playing cards plates in French majolica.
Known as “assiettes parlantes” … more An amazing and rare set of six Choisy le Roi playing cards plates in French majolica.
Known as “assiettes parlantes” or talking plates, this set is based on the face cards of a playing deck.
A cream earthenware body with green borders, each plate shows two face cards, colourful figures, and descriptive banners.
The plates are marked with the Choisy-le-Roi Hautin Boulenger & Co maker's mark from 1878.

Choisy-le-Roi Hautin Boulenger & Co is famous for its “Terre de Fer” earthenware, known for its durability and intricate designs. These pieces are highly valued by collectors for their historical significance and exquisite craftsmanship.

A few of the inscriptions translate to:
“The flirtatious Queen of Hearts, with gummies, casts a victorious eye.
King of Spades and King of Congo, how ugly he is! He looks like a veal!
Good King Dagobert has put his pants on backwards...
Avoid the Queen of Spades. Alas, whoever rubs against it gets pricked.
The King of Clubs is very brilliant. But he runs away, taking the money.
The good Queen of Diamonds, sells the carrot and the leek.
Queen of Clubs is penniless, she reigns at the café chantant.
Carrying the backpack cheerfully, the trooper is the King of Diamonds.”

Please note that one of the plates has a hairline fracture shown in the last picture.

Creator: Choisy-le-Roi (Manufacturer)
Dimensions: Diameter: 7.9 in (20 cm)
Weight: 1626 g
Sold As: Set of 6
Style: French Provincial (In the Style Of)
Materials and Techniques: Earthenware, Glazed, Majolica
Place of Origin: France
Period: Late 19th Century
Date of Manufacture: circa 1880
Condition: Good except for one of the plates that has a hairline fracture less