MONTPELLIER FAIENCE

French tin-glazed earthenware made at factories in the city of Montpellier, France, from the end of the 16th century into the 19th century. Its heyday was between 1570 and 1750. Much of the output consisted of drug jars (Montpellier was one of the oldest medical schools in Europe), but its wares from the beginning showed a certain individuality. Among the better decorations were much-copied naturalistic bouquets on a white or yellow background, instead of the traditional stylized flower arrangements.