Description: This beautiful wall plate/plaque was produced by Villeroy and Boch Mettlach in 1891.

It is made in the same traditional Mettlach "etched" technique that made Mettlach so famous and put it well above all contemporary and modern ceramics manufacturers.

The design of the plaque was created by Wilhelm Schultz (Hans Wilhelm Schultz) - Schultz, W. (Initials also appeared as W.S., W.S.H., or W.Sch.). One of the better designers, who, along with Warth and Schlitt, produced plaques and steins that are masterpieces of ceramic art. A few of these pieces are: Stein Nos. 1817, 1851 and 2126 (signed W. Schultz, Hanau). Plaque Nos. 1384, 1385, 1769 and 1770 (signed and dated W. Sch. 87).

The plaque features a peasant warrior from the times of the German Peasants' War. The Great Peasants' War or Great Peasants' Revolt (German: Deutscher Bauernkrieg) was a widespread popular revolt in some German-speaking areas in Central Europe from 1524 to 1525. The peasant-rebel is holding a self-made improvised weapon, his hand is wounded and bandaged, his Coat-of-Arms are the farmer's tools. He is portrayed in front of a bunch of thistles indicating the harsh live. The inscription at the top of the plaque reads:

"Тrutz ohne Мacht wird versacht"
(Resistance without power is lost)

The "etching" of the plate is quite astonishing - it is made of different color clay and touched-up by hand. Excellent craftsmanship and very labor-intensive.

Marked with incised Mettlach tower mark, 1385 model number and 91 for the year of production 1891.

Please note that this plate has a mate - #1384 is the matching pair created by W.Schultz showing the opposing party - a Landsknecht soldier or soldier for hire employed by the aristocracy that eventually crushed the peasants' revolt. I sell them separately - please look at my auctions for this plate as well.

The plate is in excellent flawless condition with no breaks, chips or cracks. There are some very minor manufacturing color misses. There is no chips, cracks or repairs.

It is large and impresive - 14.2" in diameter, quite heavy.