SERVING AN APHRODISIAC

A TASTE OF FRANCE  -  MAJOLICA

Again, in our travels, my husband has helped me to find many beautiful pieces from the past and this is yet another. "It's a flower plate" he smiles.

"Oh! It's for oysters, honey, but isn't it lovely!" I reply.

Another tempting piece for my Etsy Store, "RESTOREDau". 

But with no makers mark or stamp I knew I was setting myself a challenge and a challenge I was willing to accept. [Makes me feel like an archaeologist, he-he-he]. So after many hours, days and yes, weeks this is what I have uncovered in my learnings.

Majolica was first made in Faenza and Pesaro, then in Gubbio, then Urbino, Perugia, Ferrara, Monte-lupo, Naples and other places in Italy.

During the Great Majolica Period (1400s-1500s) it was the fashion to present to lovers, mistresses or betrothed(fiancée), small ornamental pieces of ‘Amatoria’ (generally plates, dishes or vases) with the portrait and 1st name of their favoured fair. Majolica popularity was lost by the end of the 1500s but was revived during the 1600s at Naples, known as the Neapolitan Ware, but was distinguished with its thinner colour glazings. It is said that the Italian majolica copied those of France but with much more gusto to their designs.  (cited: A Guide To The Knowledge of Pottery, Porcelain, 1857).

This beautiful majolica oyster plate has been skilfully formed and glazed by hand to create a most pleasing tableware server. The backstamp has been washed away but after a great deal of research and comparison I have determined from the design features (overlapping wells, number of wells, background array positioning, well shapes defined and present [ear lobe, etc], overall size and wells positioning) to be that of the PILLIVUYT PORCELAIN COMPANY of France.

Pillivuyt Porcelain of France have been recognized the world over as the 1st choice for enduring quality and design. Pillivuyt have used nothing but the finest materials in their wares since 1818, making them a leader in culinary tableware and bakewares for almost 200 years.

Though missing it's mark, it lacks nothing in design and style.  It has been used but shows little actual wear.  There are a few random dark marks in the glaze which I have discoered present in many other oyster plates by Pillivuyt, whether from grains of dirt in the glaze or other I cannot determine.

In excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks, repairs or damage but crazing is evident and expected with age.

 

It is now available in my Etsy store - RESTOREDau. 
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