38 Galle Blue and White Faience Armorial Plates

Assembled Set of Thirty-Eight Galle Blue and White Faience Armorial Plates, fourth quarter 19th century, Nancy, molded in the Louis XV taste, comprising twenty-six dinner plates, dia. 9-1/2", and twelve salad/dessert plates, dia. 8-1/2", variously marked "S. Clement", "Galle Nancy" and "E. Galle Nancy Depose". The comital arms here are those of Bigot de la Touanne et de Morogues, a French family ennobled in the 14th century. The Comte de la Touanne at the time these plates were manufactured, and thus presumably the owner, was Charles Felix-Marie-Olivier Bigot (b. 1861), who later joined the priesthood. Slight variations in the dimensions, color and marks on the plates suggest that the set was assembled over time.