This is a stunning set of 6 plates made in Paris in about 1865. The plate have a soft mauve/purple rim with fine giltwork, and sublimely painted fruits in the centre.
There were many porcelain factories in 19th Century Paris, and just as many decorating studios. Often items were made in one factory and then decorated in a studio, but most did not sign their works so we can't know who made this set of plates.
CONDITION REPORT The plates are in excellent condition without any damage, repairs or crazing, and just some rubbing, as visible in the pictures.
Antique porcelain is never perfect. Kilns were fired on coal in the 1800s, and this meant that china from that period can have some firing specks from flying particles. Due to the shrinkage in the kiln, items can have small firing lines or develop crazing over time, which should not be seen as damage but as an imperfection of the maker's recipes, probably unknown at the time of making. Items have often been used for many years and can have normal signs of wear, and gilt can have signs of slight disintegration even if never handled. I will reflect any damage, repairs, obvious stress marks, crazing or heavy wear in the item description but some minor scratches, nicks, stains and gilt disintegration can be normal for vintage items and need to be taken into account.
There is widespread confusion on the internet about the difference between chips and nicks, or hairlines and cracks. I will reflect any damage as truthfully as I can, i.e. a nick is a tiny bit of damage smaller than 1mm and a chip is something you can easily see with the eye; a glazing line is a break in the glazing only; hairline is extremely tight and/or superficial and not picked up by the finger; and a crack is obvious both to the eye and the finger. Etcetera - I try to be as accurate as I can and please feel free to ask questions or request more detailed pictures!
DIMENSIONS: 22cm (8.75").
