BEAUVAIS.--How early pottery was made at Beauvais is not certainly known; one of the earliest notices is of a pot of Charles VI. in 1399, "Un godet de terre de Beauvais, garny d'argent;" and Rabelais mentions this work more than once, in this way, "Une salière de terre; et ung goubelet de Beauvoys," etc. Various pieces of this very quaint and interesting pottery are extant in the museums of Europe. The great plate we illustrate is in the Imperial Library at Paris, and bears the date of 1511 (Fig. 81). It is of fine paste, and is about seventeen inches in diameter. Its ornaments are in relief, and are the arms of France and of Brittany at that period. Many elaborate and decorative pieces were made here, and some of them were designed and were used for presents to distinguished personages who visited the city. Not only were these works of luxury made, but large quantities of household work were manufactured for the uses of France; and there was a very considerable export of it to England. [Illustration: FIG. 81.--_Beauvais Pottery._] ROUEN.--One of the most extensive productions of pottery in France began at Rouen as early as 1542; and after 1640 were made here many large and highly-decorated pieces, of which we give some illustrations. Just when work of this kind was first produced does not clearly appear; but a very considerable number of fabriques were established in this city, and many men and women were employed. There is no question that at one time the potteries of Delft had a considerable influence upon the work at Rouen, and much that was then made [Illustration: FIG. 82.--_Rouen Faience._] showed traces of imitation. Pieces of large size were produced, such as fountains, vases, busts, figures and figurines, and even mantel-pieces. Work was done for the table, some of which holds high rank. When Louis XIV. sent his silver to be minted in 1713, to pay for his extravagant wars, he had it replaced by a service made at Rouen. Some pieces in the Sèvres Museum, marked with the _fleur-de-lis_, may have belonged to this. [Illustration: FIG. 83.--_Rouen Faience._] Many of the rich and the noble followed his example, and the result was that a marvelous impulse was given to the increase and the perfection of the faiences at Rouen. Before the final closing of the works, about 1789 or 1790, some eighteen extensive fabriques were in active work. The variety of articles made at Rouen was very great, ranging from salt-cellars and candlesticks to mantel-pieces and stoves. [Illustration: FIG. 84.--_Rouen Faience._] The paste of the Rouen faience is stronger than that of Delft, and the pieces I have seen show a reddish clay through the breaks of the enamel.