Villeroy & Boch French Enamelware Dishes with Guignol Characters gift for the teacher and still in operation

and still in operation

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

and I must say he'll be a tough one to part with

I would guess it dates from the 1960s or early 70s

To me it's like a three-dimensional drawing

Villeroy & Boch French Enamelware Dishes with Guignol Characters gift for the teacher and still in operationI 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