Antique Vignaud Limoges France Platter, John Wanamaker, Pink Floral Gold Gilt Serving Dish

This beautiful antique porcelain serving platter was made in Limoges, France by Vignaud and retailed by the prestigious John Wanamaker department store. The white porcelain platter has a delicate border of small pink roses and floral medallions surrounded by intricate green and gold decoration. Wide gold gilt accents the shaped ends, with a fine gold line finishing the rim. What really makes this piece stand out is its condition. The porcelain remains beautifully glossy, the gold is bright and shiny with little to no wear, and the center shows no utensil marks. The underside carries both the Vignaud Limoges France mark and the distinctive John Wanamaker retailer's mark with Philadelphia, Paris and New York. A wonderful antique serving piece for a Limoges collection, an antique table setting, or for someone adding to an existing Vignaud service.

Size:
12 inches long
8 inches wide

Condition:
Excellent antique condition.
No chips or cracks.
No utensil marks.
Gold gilt remains bright and shiny with little to no wear.

History:
Limoges is not the name of a single porcelain company, but the French city and surrounding region famous for its production of fine hard-paste porcelain. By the 19th century, Limoges had become one of France's most important centers of porcelain manufacture. The factory associated with Vignaud had a much longer manufacturing history before the Vignaud name appeared. French cultural heritage records trace the porcelain factory at Limoges' rue du Chinchauvaud to 1838. In 1912, brothers Gustave and Albert Vignaud took over the factory and operated it together until 1938. Albert Vignaud then continued the business until 1970, when the factory was acquired by Bernardaud.

This platter has another bit of history underneath it: the retailer's mark for John Wanamaker, with Philadelphia, Paris and New York. John Wanamaker became one of the great names in American department-store history. His Philadelphia Grand Depot opened in 1876, and the Wanamaker stores became known for offering an enormous variety of merchandise, including fine imported goods. Fine French porcelain made in Limoges and bearing the Wanamaker name was therefore not simply everyday china—it was porcelain produced in one of France's great manufacturing centers and selected for sale by one of America's best-known luxury department stores. The two marks together give this platter a wonderful connection between Limoges, France and American department-store history.

For more dinnerware and serving items please click here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MountainAireVintage?section_id=15788236&ref=shopsection_leftnav_1

MountainAireVintage (7514)
©For People Who Have A Deep Love Of Things Vintage