posted on June 1, 2003 04:54:20 PM
I'm on a roll! This large porcelain oval bowl/platter was in a box. It's about 12 inches long, 7 inches wide and sides extend up about 3 inches. It has gold gilding and 2 bunches of floral decorations on the ends. There are absolutely NO marks on the bottom...Can anybody identify the pattern/maker/approximate age? Thanks again...
posted on June 1, 2003 05:34:14 PM
Hi capotasto...GREAT! If you find out anything about yours, let me know! The "found in a box" was a reference to a friend who's sent me 26 boxes of treasures to sell on eBay...I've posted photos of a couple that I needed help in identifying...and this one is the latest...
[ edited by blueyes29 on Jun 1, 2003 05:36 PM ]
posted on June 1, 2003 06:31:50 PM
The easy reply would be that it's either a dresser dish or celery dish, but it seems a bit wide for celery dish. I dunno. Some really smart person here will leap in and help you.
posted on June 1, 2003 08:22:37 PM
Hi, My first thought was a celery or relish dish also but it is rather large for that so don't know for sure. I think it is from the late 1800's to early 1900's and was probably made in Germany, Bavaria, Austria or somewhere else in that general area. It is very pretty!
Edited to add--maybe it is a bread plate.
[ edited by antique519 on Jun 1, 2003 08:23 PM ]
posted on June 1, 2003 10:07:13 PM
It is a tray, not a bowl, and is most likely an ice cream tray. Don't sell it until you unpack the other boxes. If there are plates to match, anywhere from 6" to 8 1/2", you will have an ice cream set or dessert set. The tray appears, from your photos, to be professionally decorated by a factory artist or at a studio. That is hand enamling on the flowers, correct? I just sold a "so-so" ice cream set within the past few weeks for $175. Your tray is German, Bavarian or French, though the maker isn't important if the quality of the porcelain, glazing and decoration is high. Being unmarked, it is probably older than you think, probably dating prior to 1890.
posted on June 2, 2003 09:11:13 AM
Hi "cupotea"...and thanks for the info. The term "Ice Cream Tray" is a new one for me...is there any place I can research these? I'm not an expert but yes, the enameling does appear to be hand-done...when I run my finger over it, I can feel the painted places. I think this is the only piece as my friend generally packed all the pieces to sets in one box...But, I do still have about 7 boxes to open so maybe I'll be surprised. Appreciate the help...THANKS!
Note how the tray is approximately the same in appearance and size as your tray.
I am not quite sure how an ice cream tray was used, perhaps the tray held the ice cream, was carried to the table, and scooped onto the plates.
I have another ice cream set I have had on my shelf for over a year, and I will probably sell it this Christmas. It is 19th century Limoges, with 12 plates. The set is Limoges studio decorated. The blank is ornate, with fancy scrolls. The background color is green. Each plate has a different bouquet of flowers on it, so that each plate looks different from the other. The decorating is done in a Japonisme style, in that the outlining of the patterns are in gold, and the colors painted in by the studio artist. The set is unique and extraordinarily lovely. When I sell this set I expect to get at least $500 for it, if the market is good.
On another thread on this Board, I recently mentioned that I sell a lot of antiques out of my home. It is because I use and display what I own, and I know what it is that I have. Knowledge is everything. If you want to gain knowledge, start building a reference library in your home. The books are good investments, because even if you decide you no longer have a need for a certain reference book, you can sell it on eBay and at the minimum get your cost back. Start with some of the collecting books on Limoges and Prussia by Mary Frank Gaston.
posted on June 2, 2003 04:01:48 PM
WOW...lovely set, "hotcupotea"...The other one you have sounds even more exceptional...Lucky you living with such beauty! I do appreciate the help...and am convinced that mine is, in fact, an ice cream tray...Wish it were marked. Thanks again and good luck on your auctions!
The "found in a box" was a reference to a friend who's sent me 26 boxes of treasures to sell on eBay...I've posted photos of a couple that I needed help in identifying...and this one is the latest...