Haviland And Co., Limoges Porcelain Tray With Clown Decoration

This porcelain tray depicts four clownish sketches: a clown surprised by another, a clown accompanied by a pig showing off, the burlesque gait of two clowns and a clown holding a cornet raised to his nose, in front of the astonished look of a second. The edges, irregularly cut in the style of rocaille art, are enhanced with gold.

The signature visible on the back of the tray indicates that it is a creation of the Limoges company Haviland and Co., probably from the end of the 19^th century. A merchant, David Haviland (1814-1879), first created with his older brother an import company of earthenware and porcelain in 1838 in New York, Haviland Brothers. In 1842, he founded his own porcelain factory in Limoges. He was awarded a gold medal in 1853 in New York and won a silver medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1855. His company was then taken over by his descendants.