Rob,

Here is more information on the mark that you found on this jar: the firm
"Lebeuf Milliet et Cie" existed between 1840 and 1876. The Montereau and
Creil factories kept producing after that date, but under a different label.
It also seems that the full name "Lebeuf Milliet & Cie" was very quickly
abbreviated in "L.M.C." or "L M & Cie" on successive marks. The change
happened sometime between 1844 and 1867.

Transfer printing on refined earthenwares appeared in France in 1808, both
at Creil and Sèvres (Hauts-de-Seine). Sèvres is a factory in the Paris area,
very famous for its porcelain. Before 1808, transfer was used very sparingly
by Sèvres, but not on "faiences fines".

This, more marks, and more historic details on transfer printing in France
can be found in:

Guillemé-Brulon, Dorothée
2000 La faience fine française, 1750-1867. Paris: Massin.

Guillemé-Brulon inventoried 27 French factories that produced refined
earthenwares, and that used transfer printing (including blue Willow
pattern), worming, marbling, mocha, and luster to decorate their wares.

Best,
Myriam


Myriam Arcangeli
PhD candidate
Department of Archaeology
Boston University