Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon
54 different enamel plaques depicting silk manufacture, by the Lyon artist Antoine Vollon.
Lyon has long been associated with the manufacture of silk. In the middle of the 19th century, new machines (‘dessiccateurs’) were invented for drying silk. Decorating the machines were beautiful enamel plaques by the Lyon-born artist Antoine Vollon (1833-1900). Amazingly, he was only 20 or 21 when this series of curved plaques was created. He went on to find fame and fortune as an artist in Paris. The 54 different designs in this pack cover all stages of the production of silk and provide a fascinating record of an ancient craft industry. The old coat of arms of Lyon is featured on the reverse, surrounded by a garland of flowers. See the box
Above: Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon playing cards made in the E.U. for the Musée des Tissus and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Lyon, Lyon, France, c2013. 52 cards + 2 Jokers + 1 title card in tuck box. Size: 58 x 88 mm. Purchased in Lyon, December 2013.
Follow this link to see what the original plaques look like: plaques-en-fonte-emaillees-realisees-par-le-peintre-lyonnais-antoine-vollon/►
By Roddy Somerville
France • Member since May 31, 2022
Roddy started collecting stamps on his 8th birthday. In 1977 he joined the newly formed playing-card department at Stanley Gibbons in London before setting up his own business in Edinburgh four years later. His collecting interests include playing cards, postcards, stamps (especially playing cards on stamps) and sugar wrappers. He is a Past President of the Scottish Philatelic Society, a former Chairman of the IPCS, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards and Curator of the WCMPC’s collection of playing cards. He lives near Toulouse in France.
Activity for Les plaques émaillées d’Antoine Vollon
Sign in to comment or save this article.
Related Articles
Paris 2024 Olympics 3
Paris Games mascot Phryge engaged in different sports in a Happy Families-type game.
Paris 2024 Olympics 2
A standard French Tarot game pack with passing references to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Paris 2024 Olympics 1
Modern Paris pattern courts, special ace and jokers for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Jeu de la Belle Epoque
Jeu de la Belle Epoque, remembering a golden age of optimism, progress and elegance.
Les métiers et leurs protecteurs
“Les métiers et leurs protecteurs” playing cards published by Editions Dusserre, c. 1995.
Hand-painted and Silk-inlaid playing cards
Complete pack of 36 hand-painted and silk-inlaid playing cards with French suits made in Germany.
Le Burling
1960s pack from Annecy with non-standard suits all connected with the office.
Bau-Skat playing cards
Comic illustrations of people working in the building trade.
Maisons-Alfort à la “Belle Epoque”
Celebrating 1,000 years of the town of Maisons-Alfort (988-1988) with designs by Henri Simoni.
Matryoshka playing cards
The first nested doll set was carved in 1890.
Martinique
Original designs from the French overseas department of Martinique by local artist Martine Porry.
Eurotrotter
Eurotrotter by La Ducale, c.1980s.
Crocheter’s Playing Cards
Crocheter’s playing cards sent to subscribers of the Crochet Society box, 2021.
Trades People Happy Families
Happy Families card game depicting trades people from 1920s.
63: The descendants of the French regional patterns: 1
A great many regional patterns were exported from France and subsequently copied elsewhere. Some of ...
Country Craftsmen
“Country Craftsmen” Happy Families with illustrations by Mandy Hall, published for the National Trus...
Jack of all Trades
Jack of all Trades card game.
Kay Snap
Kay Snap Children's Card Game, made in England, 1930s.
Production Methods for Small Scale Editions
Some alternative approaches to producing small, hand-made editions of playing cards
Silk Inlaid playing cards for Charles I.
Silk Inlaid playing cards said to have been made for Charles I
Most Popular
Our top articles from the past 60 days
