Three 19th Century Continental Naturalist Fruit, Insect, Vegetable Plates

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Set of Three 19th-Century Continental Hand-Painted Porcelain Plates with Naturalist Fruit & Insect Decoration

A captivating set of three finely … Read more Set of Three 19th-Century Continental Hand-Painted Porcelain Plates with Naturalist Fruit & Insect Decoration

A captivating set of three finely hand-painted porcelain plates, dating to the 19th century or earlier, likely originating from a Continental European decorative studio in Dresden or Paris. Each plate is exquisitely decorated in the Naturformen tradition, drawing inspiration from 18th-century Meissen and Sèvres porcelain, with a delightful combination of fruits, vegetables, botanical elements, insects, and butterflies painted in vibrant polychrome enamels.

The plates feature molded basketweave borders and scalloped rims with hand-applied gilt detailing. Each is individually painted with a unique arrangement of natural specimens—fruits such as quince, plum, cherry, lemon, squash, and hazelnuts; vegetables like spring onions; and a wide variety of insect life. The artistry is both decorative and naturalistic, celebrating the 19th-century passion for entomology and botanical studies.

The reverse of each plate is marked with a delicate hand-painted blue monogram, possibly a decorator’s cipher (“T.D.” or “J.D.”), along with impressed mold numbers, suggesting the use of high-quality porcelain blanks decorated in a small atelier or studio environment.

These plates exemplify the era’s fascination with nature and its translation into fine domestic objects. They would make a stunning wall display or enhance any cabinet of curiosities, particularly for collectors of Continental porcelain, botanical art, or Grand Tour–style tablewares.

Detailed Plate Analysis:

Plate 1:
• Fruits & Vegetables: Green quince or apple, cherries, walnuts, pea pod, lavender spike
• Insects: purple-and-yellow butterfly, yellow butterfly, blue fly, brown weevil, black fly, yellow beetle
• Other Natural Forms: Red and white mushrooms, white feather, heart-shaped seed pod

Plate 2:
• Fruits & Nuts: Striped melon or gourd, blue plums, green almond in husk, whole almond, split nut
• Insects: Yellow-and-purple butterfly, purple butterfly, pale yellow moth, small red-and-blue beetle, red spider or mite
• Other Motifs: Green fruit with orange interior (possibly medlar or fig)

Plate 3:
• Vegetables & Fruits: Red spring onions or shallots, green quince or apple, lemon or gourd with berries
• Nuts & Leaves: Split green hazelnuts, green clover, or oxalis leaf
• Insects: Blue-and-yellow butterfly, dragonfly, small purple beetle, or mite

Condition:
Excellent antique condition with minor wear to the gilding and minimal surface wear consistent with age. No chips, cracks, or restorations.

Attribution:
Likely Dresden or Paris, circa 1820–1880
Possibly produced using high-quality German or French blanks, decorated by a master hand in a regional studio.

Dimensions:
Each plate measures 9.5 inches in diameter. See less