Villeroy & Boch French Enamelware Dishes with Guignol Characters gift for the teacher Young or old

Young or old

I have found one other reference to a signed toucan dating to the first quarter of the 20th century

And with its pretty gold-toned wheat design in relief

feels like it belongs in a museum vitrine

I found this one at the estate sale of an avid art (and small animal) collector in Kansas City

Villeroy & Boch French Enamelware Dishes with Guignol Characters gift for the teacher Young or oldI fell in love immediately with the illustrations on these old Villeroy & Boch enamelware dishes and then realized they portray three characters from the famous French Guignol puppet theatre, invented in 1808 in Lyon. That sealed the deal since I have a bit of an obsession with puppets of late (and also with many things French)! ! I believe they were intended for children, but I think they would be equally great at the grown up's table. I see them