Vintage French Canova Hand-Painted Folkloric Plate

A hand-painted ceramic wall plate by Émile Canova (1919–2003), the Savoyard folk artist who built a lifetime body of work depicting French regional life across more than 8,000 different subjects. Painted in his signature naïve style, bold black outlines, soft yellow wash, a few well-placed strokes of orange, this plate belongs to his series of "assiettes parlantes": talking plates, carrying a witty inscription around the rim in his unmistakable handwritten script.

The painted figure here is the archetypal French bon vivant , a man of a certain age, hat tilted, pipe in mouth, glass of red wine in hand, and the inscription, running around the rim, reads:

"N'écoute pas ton Médecin : fais comme lui : fume ta pipe et bois du vin" ("Don't listen to your doctor, do as he does: smoke your pipe and drink your wine.")

Signed "CANOVA" lower right, with the original "Fait Main" provenance label still attached to the wire hanger on the reverse, a detail rarely surviving on plates of this age, and the mark collectors look for to authenticate Canova's hand.

Key Features

• Origin: France
• Artist: Canova
• Date: circa 1960s–1980s
• Type: Decorative wall plate
• Material: Painted ceramic / faience
• Design: Folkloric portrait scene with humorous French proverb
• Inscription: “N’écoute pas ton Médecin, fais comme lui, fume ta pipe et bois du vin”
• Marking: Signed Canova on the front
• Label: Original “Fait Main” Canova paper label to the reverse
• Display: Original hanging wire attached
• Dimension: D 19 cm
• Condition: Good vintage condition with visible surface wear, rim paint losses, scratches, and age-related marks

A small piece of French country humour, made to be hung in a kitchen, a bar, or anywhere a glass is occasionally raised in defiance of good advice.

Disclaimer:
All our products are vintage or antique items that have been previously used and loved. As such, they may display signs of age, wear, imperfections, or minor defects that add to their unique charm and authenticity. Some items in our collection have been carefully restored or preserved, while others have been left in their original untouched condition to honor their history and character. We invite you to appreciate the stories these timeless pieces carry.