Creighton University

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a portrayal of FC (X 2). The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "3. Le Renard et le Corbeau." The back has a smudged "Digoin" stamp. $9 from Take a Second Look, Inc., Cuddebackville, NY, through Ebay, June, '99.

The front of the plate seems exactly the same as on the black-colored plate found earlier except that the front coloring is now brown. See my comments there.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's WL. The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "4. Le Loup et l'Agneau." The back has a "Digoin" stamp.

The wolf makes a highly dramatic gesture of pointing to the lamb in accusation. Could it be true that in some instances the fourth plate in this series was not WL but rather "The Cat and the Monkey"?

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "The Cat and the Monkey" (IX 17). The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "5. Le Singe et le Chat." The back has a smudged "Digoin" stamp. One extra exemplar.

With GA, this is the closest following of Grandville. It is also perhaps the best executed design of all the plates I have seen thus far. My only question concerns Grandville's interpretation of what was going on in the scene. I think the monkey needs to be behind the cat's back--in any case not eating the nuts in front of him! There is a slight hiatus between a fallen "DE" and a high "LA" on the top front of the plate. Also, the "5" is not clear.  I had thought it might be a "4."

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's FG. The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "6. Le Renard et les Raisins." The back has a "Digoin" stamp. Two extra exemplars, one of them for $19.95 from my-store-store through Ebay, March, '20.

This is a rather unusual presentation of FG, since the fox is put into the mdist of a crowd. His gestures show dismissiveness. He wears a vest and a cap. Are those dogs and chickens that move away from him, perhaps suspecting his dishonesty?

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "The Two Rats, the Fox and the Egg." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "7. Les Deux Rats le Renard et l'Oeuf." The back has a "Digoin" stamp.

This is among the most successful illustrations in this series. A good illustration is distinctly portrayed. The egg looms rightly large on the rat's belly. The fox peeks around a corner.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "The Wolf Pleading Against the Fox." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "8. Le Loup Plaidant Contre le Renard." The back has a smudged partial stamp.  $5 from pjhmah through Ebay, April, '04.

Each litigant has a raised hand as he makes a legal point. The judge rests both hands on the bench and peers through his spectacles.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's TH. The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "9. Le Lievre et la Tortue." The back has a "Digoin" stamp.

The tortoise is just crossing a visible finish wire as the hare, with head averted to the side, tries to overtake him. A mouse is perched on a rock at the finish line.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "The Dog Carrying His Master's Dinner." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "10. Le Chien Qui Porte a Son Cou le Diner de Son Maitre." The back has a "Digoin" stamp.

The attack of others against this dog is clear, as the illustration presents a close grouping of three figures. A dog behind the porter-dog grasps him with his paws. A dark fierce dog stands in his way. the basket around the porter-dog's neck is a focus of attention.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is a representation of Grandville's "Lark, Her Children, and the Master of the Field." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "11. L'Alouette, les Petits et le Maitre d'un Champ." The back has an indistinct "Digoin" stamp.

The illustration suggests the calm of the mother, who knows human promises and unfulfillment. It also suggests the anxiety of the young larks, who do not know how to put human remarks into perspective.

1930? 7" white plate from Sarreguemines, France. Inside a 1.5" rim there is an adaptation of Grandville's LM (II 11). The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "12. Le Lion et le Rat." The back has a "Digoin/ Sarreguemines/France" stamp. $9 from Take a Second Look, Inc., Cuddebackville, NY, through Ebay, June, '99.

The basic motif from Grandville, including the pose of the three main figures (attending monkey, Lion, and rat) remains the same, but the surroundings are drastically changed, down to giving the monkey a jungle hat. This is another well defined image. This stamp helps one to read the stamp on the other two brown plates.

1930? 7¼" white bowl from Sarreguemines, France. 1.5" deep.  Inside the bowl there is a brown adaptation of Grandville's "The Cat and the Fox." The front carries two inscriptions: "Fables de la Fontaine" and "1. Le Chat et le Renard." The back has the usual Digoin stamp. From an unknown source before 2006.

The two characters are in the outdoor setting that will test their evasive "tricks."  Each raises a paw in their contention with each other about the effectiveness of their manoeuvres.  Hats, vests, and trousers humanize both.  The fox is carrying prey he has captured.  The cat has a walking stick.  Was Royce an adapter of Grandville's work?