This lot features an early California Gold Rush transferware plate, originating from Creil & Montereau, France, out of the Lebeuf & Milliet pottery shop circa 1850. Creil and Montereau pottery, a business which operated until 1895 and was created from the amalgamation of two potteries, one at Creil-sur-Oise, north of Paris, established in 1797, and another at Montereau, south of Paris, established in 1748. Louis Lebeuf and Etienne Thibault operated the business from 1825 to 1833, and the wares were stamped 'Creil and Montereau' and 'Lebeuf Milliet & Cie.' from about 1840 until the death of Lebeuf in 1876. Earthenware made at the Creil factory was the first French pottery to use transfer printing on earthenware. By reproducing engravings on different topics, they created several sets of plates. This particular piece is titled across the bottom; "Apres Avoir Decouvert Une Bonne Mine, On En Rencontre Parfois D'assez Mauvaises", translating to "After discovering a good mine, one sometimes encounters bad ones", and is additionally labeled "No 7". The plate . The phrase on the bottom of the plate is a play on words, as "mine" in French means either "gold mine" or "look". The plate depicts a gold rush miner returning from a good gold mine (bonne mine), and meets people with "bad look" (mauvaise mine), who are obviously going to steal his gold. The scene is encircled by an intricate border of gorgeous flowers, and additionally reads "Mines D'or - Californie - San Francisco". The back of the plate shows period correct hallmarks, labeled; "LeBeuf Milliet & Cie - Creil & Montereau". The plate is also stamped on the bottom "S-C". A similar Lebeuf & Milliet transferware plate went to Heritage Auctions in November of 2010 - Dallas Grand Format Americana & Political Memorablilia Auction #6047 - Lot #47286, and sold for nearly $900. Overall, the plate shows very-good condition, showing vivid detail of transferred graphic onto earthenware, and displaying only very-light crazing, and wear to the hard line of the plate. The plate measures 8 1/8" across. These were made during the Gold Rush. An example attributing the plates as being Gold Rush related was sold by Heritage Auction Company in 2010. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer‰Ûªs responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.