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.