SET OF 4 ANTIQUE PINK & GOLD ENCRUSTED D&Co L BERNARDAUD LIMOGES DINNER PLATES

Description

Maker and marks
: Two backstamps appear on the reverse of these four lovely dinner plates. One is the third green white ware mark of Délinières & Co, or D & Co., the classic Limoges firm that became L. Bernardaud, producer of exceptional quality porcelain since 1863 and a major player in Limoges today. The red Bernardaud decorator's mark number 3 also appears.
Age
: The white ware mark was in use from 1894 to 1900. The decorator's mark was in use between 1900 and the 1930s. That means these plates were likely produced in 1900 - the only year that the marks overlap - making them 121 years old.
Source: The Collector's Encyclopedia of Limoges Porcelain by Mary Frank Gaston, third edition.
Design and size
: The scalloped pink plates are beautifully hand painted with sections of gold netting that alternate with cartouches of finely painted pink roses and green leaves; the floral display is repeated in the center.
Size
: The plates are 9 1/2 inches wide and together weigh 4 pounds.
Condition
: The fronts of all 4 plates are shown in the photos, and the plates are numbered.
There is wear to the gold edges and to parts of the pink sections and cartouches on all 4 plates - it's visible in the photos.
Plate 1 has several white spots of significant wear within the pink sections and the cartouches.
Plate 2 is a slightly darker pink than the other plates and has a section of excess raised gold in one of the netting sections that was created in the manufacturing process. It's shown in the photos with the red arrows.
Plate 3 has a chip on the edge on the back that is not visible from the front - it's shown in the photos with the red arrows - and white spots of wear in the pink sections and cartouches.
Plate 4 has small white spots of wear in the pink sections and cartouches.
Though all the plates were carefully examined for damage, there may be other flaws that are not described here so please check all the photos very carefully - they are an important part of the description.
The US Postal Service is reporting an unprecedented volume of packages and reduced staff levels due to the holidays and the ongoing health crisis. Though we will ship promptly, there may be significant delays in delivery. Please take this into account when ordering.