Jatte à l'arbre d'amour, Nevers circa 1790

Nevers earthenware bowl with polychrome decoration of the tree of love, dated 1790. The love tree depicts men taking refuge in the branches around a cupid perched at the top of the tree, while women below try to lure them down with gifts, tricks or by sawing through the trunk.
18th century, revolutionary period circa 1790.

This decoration, of popular inspiration, is characteristic of Nevers earthenware of the late XVIII? century. It illustrates love relationships in a humorous, inverted way, in the spirit of
‘worlds upside down’.