Posted 12 years ago
Deanteaks
(291 items)
this is a nice quality plate, I believe it is porcelain, but it is not glazed on the bottom, any ideas on this old plate/platter? age, origin, or maker, it says OMara on the reverse and 3 letters on the front RAW I believe, maybe British royalty? it is heavy for it's size 17 x 12
Hi, Deanteaks! Look to me like a beautiful antique dresser tray, handpainted throughout. I might be mistaken about its being a dresser tray, but it's appears to be handpainted by O'Mara, a porcelain painter whose signature appears on older Limoges porcelain. Superbly designed and executed monogram. I think that the final letter might well be an "N", not a "W", but I also see why you might think it a "W". The artistry of the monogram indicates an artist of great skill. The roses are beautiful and delicate. They do not overwhelm, despite their profusion. Shape of tray is Rococo. This looks like Limoges porcelain, and I find that O'Mara did paint Limoges. However, I note something very unusual here: there is no Limoges factory back stamp on your tray. Which leaves me to wonder if it is Limoges. My knowledge of Limoges is very light. Perhaps someone else could speak to this.
Here's a link with image of an O'Mara on a Klingenberg Limoges Mark 5 piece - Inventory ID Number 2777. The website dates the Klingenberg porcelain thusly: "1891 to very early 1900s". Observe the signature - an exact match.
http://www.limogeslovers.com/limoges-detail.cfm?inventoryID=2777
I don't see any indication that this might have been made for royalty or owned by royalty. It is very beautiful whoever owned it! Gilding looks remarkably intact.
Here are two more links for you. The first is to an article by Debbie DuBay, a Limoges expert. It is quite excellent, and you will find it rewarding. The second link is to a site full of Limoges people.
http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/limoges.htm
http://e-limoges.com/makers/klingenberg-limoges-boxes.php
Have discovered that many Limoges trays were not glazed on the bottom, and that some don't bear factory marks. Further, blanks were exported to many decorating companies. Many women china painters - both amateurs and those operating their own 'private business' - purchased blanks for their own decoration.
http://www.rubylane.com/item/165275-2222/Hand-Painted-Yellow-Roses-Watercolor
Remembered that some Klingenberg decor
Please ignore the last sentence, "Remembered that some Klingenberg decor...." Was about to embark on a tangent.
Thank you, mikko :)