Emile Balon, Architectural panel with numbers of François I, Circa 1880, polychrome glazed earthenware, Blois, France

This decorative ensemble is the work of Emile Balon (born and died in Blois, 1859 – 1929) and comprises nine decorative panels designed to be integrated into an architectural set. This spectacular decorative panel with the coat of arms of François I illustrates the enduring influence of Renaissance inspiration in the fire arts at the end of the 19th century. Strongly influenced by the Italian majolica of Faenza and Urbino in the wing’s polychrome scroll decoration, this work remains a benchmark in the technical mastery of colors and materials used on a monumental scale. The salamander crowned with the initials of François I underlines the essential role played by the king in the development of the arts in Touraine. With the rediscovery of this colorful past, Blois is back in the limelight.

Price upon request