Very Large Antique Limoges Plaque Charger With Hand Painted Summer Roses Circa 1920
Product Description And Additional Pictures
We are pleased to offer this large, platter-sized charger - or ornamental plaque - produced between 1869 and 1924, and exquisitely hand-painted with an array of vibrant, summer roses in full bloom. Produced in the Limoges region of France and imported by the renowned Lewis Straus & Sons importers (see the LS&S Limoges backstamp), this huge antique plaque measures 11-1/4" in diameter. Based on the backstamp, we know this ornamental display plate was made between 1869 and 1924, making it at least 100 years old! It was always intended to be the canvas for a porcelain artist: while it was still unfired greeware, holes were pierced into the foot of this large plate so that it could be displayed on a wall. (We have provided an image showing this detail). While that form of display was commonplace during the era of this plate's manufacture, the downside to hanging a plate was the inevitable wear to the rim edge caused by the brackets around the plate. Fortunately there is only very nominal wear to this plate's thin band of gilding on the rim.
Please examine our images to see the excellent antique condition of this beautiful charger, and the undeniable skill of the porcelain artist! Unfortunately, he or she did not sign this stunning work. This gorgeous French porcelain plate deserves pride of place within a Limoges or European porcelain collection and will bring another century of enjoyment to the lucky new owner who possesses a discerning eye for beauty!
BRIEF HISTORY: The Straus family, led by Lazarus Straus, emigrated from Ottenberg, Bavaria to the United States in 1852. Straus and his wife initially settled in Georgia with their three sons; Isidor, Nathan, and Oscar Solomon. Lazarus Straus began working as a pushcart peddler. Following the Civil War, the family resettled in New York City where they eventually opened a dry goods store. In 1869 the family established the merchandising firm of L. Straus and Sons, and began importing into the United States high quality porcelain, pottery and crystal from France and Germany. Although the firm acted as distributors for companies like Baccarat, Minton and Wedgwood, its primary business involved the purchase of factories in Europe. Their company controlled these factories and produced their own products. Beginning in 1873, the company sold its china and glassware in the basement of Macy's department store. Members of the Strauss family became part owners of Macy's in 1884, and the sole owners in 1896. Lazarus Straus died in 1898.
Son Isidor, who served briefly in the U.S. House of Representatives (1894 - 1895), perished with his wife aboard the ocean liner Titanic in 1912. A year after their deaths, Nathan Straus agreed to sell his shares of the Macy's stock to Isidor's three sons Jesse, Percy and Herbert, in partial exchange for their interest in L. Straus & Sons. Brother Oscar Straus had previously given up his ownership in L. Straus & Sons because of this political career. Nathan Straus continued to import china, glassware and pottery as L. Straus & Sons until 1924, when he changed the name of the business to Nathan Straus & Sons. The business permanently closed its doors in 1930. However, the family ties to Macy's remained very strong: Isidor's son, Jesse, became president of Macy's in 1919. He was succeeded in that office by his son Jack Isidor Straus, who served as company president from 1939 to 1956.
