Pair of Antique French Ironstone Majolica Oyster Dishes by Faïencerie De Longchamp

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On offer is a pair of oyster dishes, which are an authentic set of antique French "Terre de Fer" (Ironstone) … Read more On offer is a pair of oyster dishes, which are an authentic set of antique French "Terre de Fer" (Ironstone) Majolica oyster plates manufactured by the renowned Faïencerie de Longchamp. They were made between the late 19th century and the 1920s (Art Deco period). The specific combination of the "Terre de Fer" mark on the back and the minimalist, stylized grey-blue accents reflects the transition toward early 20th-century aesthetics.

DESIGN: The plates feature six beautifully sculpted, raised shell-shaped wells designed to cradle individual oysters on the half-shell. A deep, central stylized star well is designed to hold lemon wedges, mignonette, or cocktail sauces. A dark olive-green base finished with fine, radiating ribbed textures that offset the creamy white glaze of the oyster shells.

MANUFACTURER: The stamp on the back represents the Faïencerie de Longchamp, a historical pottery manufacturer founded in Burgundy, France. The incised mark clearly reads "LONGCHAMP TERRE DE FER" inside an arched format. Further, the stamp features an incised serial model number 0220 alongside a mold or decorator's mark number 9.

MATERIAL: Terre de Fer (literally "Iron Earth") denotes a high-quality, durable French earthenware or ironstone hybrid that combines clay with feldspar or quartz to prevent chipping and cracking.

Today, these classic French seafood serving plates are highly prized by collectors both for traditional seafood presentation as well as decorative coastal kitchen wall displays.

Signature/Maker’s Mark: Longchamps stamped verso (photos #7, 10). See less