A look at the design, market and legacy of Victorian pottery

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

French Dessert Plates

I've always wondered why French dessert plates aren't more popular with collectors than they are.

Perhaps its the pastel colors. Majolica collectors seek out intensely colored pieces in general so it would make sense that pastels would not be as popular.

Perhaps it's the design sensibility. French plates are undeniably French looking. They have a light feminine quality, often with art nouveau lines. More often than not they are heavily decorated with lush florals but occasionally you will find animals or people. It's very easy to imagine the novelist Colette lunching on them as she pens Gigi.

These are plates that comfortably fit in the world of Cocteau, Piaf and Chevalier.

French majolica grape plate
St. Clement majolica raspberry plate
St. Clement majolica pear plate
St. Clement majolica apple plate
St. Clement majolica orange plate
French majolica pansy plate

Gien majolica poppy plate

Sarreguemines majolica bird plate
Majolica Joan of Arc plate

Sarreguemines majolica strawberry plate
Choisy-le-Roi majolica pansy plate
French majolica aster plate
Onnaing majolica grape plate
Onnaing majolica grape plate
Onnaing majolica strawberry plate
Onnaing majolica plate
Onnaing majolica peacock plate
Onnaing majolica rose plate


Nimy majolica bird plate
Nimy majolica dessert plate
St. Amand majolica gooseberries plate
Sarreguemines strawberry majolica plate
Choisy-le-Roi majolica plate
Luneville majolica grape plate
Onnaing majolica pumpkin plate
Sarreguemines majolica pine plate
Wasmuël majolica crested bird plate
Wasmuël majolica pond lily plate
Wasmuël majolica roses plate
Wasmuël majolica sunflower plate

St. Amand dessert plate

St. Amand dessert plate

French plates are easily found and generally inexpensive with most of them selling under $100. They are a wonderful way to add color and a bit of French sophistication to your table or wall.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thanksgiving Themed Majolica

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to treat your guests to some of the wonderful serving pieces made in majolica. In addition to that, there are wonderful majolica items made with turkeys to charm the family.
Royal Dux majolica umbrella stand or floor vase

Lonitz turkey majolica planter

Lonitz majolica turkey

French majolica egg cup
Portuguese majolica turkey toothpick
Belgian majolica smoke stand
Elias Caldas Portugal turkey figure
School of Tours majolica humidor

Victor Barbizet, School of Tours majolica turkey humidor

Gustavsberg majolica turkey platter

Villeroy & Boch majolica turkey plate

What could be more appropriate for Thanksgiving than bread plates inscribed "Eat thy Bread With Thankfulness?"

Adams & Bromley majolica geranium bread platter
Adams & Bromley geranium majolica bread platter
Adams & Bromley majolica fish bread platter
Adams & Co. majolica bread platter
Eat They Bread With Thankfulness majolica platter

Eat Thy Bread With Thankfulness majolica platter

Holdcroft majolica bread tray

Eat They Bread With Joy and Thankfulness majolica platter

And some pumpkin tureens by Sarreguemines to hold the soup.

Sarreguemines majolica pumpkin tureen

Sarreguemines majolica pumpkin jar

To carry the Thanksgiving theme further you can include some Native American majolica items in honor of the first Thanksgiving.
Austrian majolica humidor
Continental tobacco humidor
Indian majolica smoke stand

Continental majolica plaque
Austrian majolica humidor
Continental majolica humidor

Continental majolica smoke stand