TOURS, Edouard Avisseau (1831-1911), 19th century. - Lot 295

TOURS, Edouard Avisseau (1831-1911), 19th century. Large slip-glazed terra cotta plaque with relief decoration of a view of the city of Tours in 1462, showing the château, Saint Gatien cathedral and the former Saint Martin basilica, as well as the now-destroyed bridge and the Château de Plessiz-les-Tours, where Louis XI died. In the medallion, in the center, Louis XI wearing the collar of the Order of Saint Michael; on the sides, on the left, Jean Briçonnet, first mayor of Tours and, on the right, the chapter of Saint Martin; at the bottom, the coat of arms of the city, and on the right, the date of manufacture of the plate 1898. Marked in a small medallion with the monogram of Edouard Avisseau. Also on the base, in a cartel, the initials of Jacques-Xavier Carré de Busserolle (1823-1904), and the inscription "Franchises municipales, Postes, Soieries, Artillerie". 38.3 x 52 cm. Edge chips. This plaque is in itself a concentrate of the great history of Tours at the time of Louis XI, who decided, following the refusal of the Lyonnais to establish a silk industry in their city, to set it up in Tours, then capital of France. At the time, Tours was a city of franchises, i.e., a city that benefited from important privileges granted by the king. This plaque also appears to be a joint work by Edouard Avisseau and Carré de Busserolle.