Antique French Ironstone Plate – “L’Ami du Chasseur”, Château de Courtry – Cochard & Manguin, Paris, Circa 1880
A finely detailed French ironstone plate from the late 19th century, featuring a central transfer decoration of a hunting dog framed by crossed rifles, laurel leaves, and the banner “L’Ami du Chasseur” (“The Hunter’s Friend”), beneath which appears the name “Château de Courtry.”
This evocative motif suggests the plate may have been specially commissioned or designed as part of a series for a hunting lodge or estate. The Château de Courtry, located east of Paris, was historically linked to rural pursuits and may have inspired the sporting theme. Surrounding the central vignette, the scalloped rim is adorned with neoclassical scroll cartouches in a soft blue-grey, interspersed with delicate red rust accents. The piece is made of terre de fer (ironstone), a dense and durable ceramic developed in 19th-century France as a practical and elegant alternative to porcelain. The back is stamped with the retailer’s mark: “Ancienne Maison à Béjot / Cochard & Manguin, Succrs / 39 Bd St Michel / TERRE DE FER” – indicating the prestigious Parisian distributor active circa 1880–1900. Condition: Very good antique condition with expected all-over glaze crazing and slight age-related patina; a few minor chips to the underside of the plate (see images) not visible from the front and not affecting display. No cracks. Provenance: France A charming and rare decorative plate steeped in the imagery of French rural tradition and ideal for collectors of sporting art, French ceramics, or château-themed interiors.
