Gorgeous Circa 1917 Leonard Vienna Large Deep Floral Porcelain Serving Platter

Measurements: 15-3/4" x 10-3/8". Weight is 4 pounds.

When I first saw this lovely platter, I thought for sure it was an antique Staffordshire transferware piece from the Aesthetic period. It is very heavy. I could not read the mark on the back but finally I did figure it out. It read "Leonard Vienna". There is also an impressed "TK 25 2" in one area and "40" with a clover in another area.

After much research, I discovered that this mark represented P.H. Leonard, a New York City importer of Bohemian porcelain beginning in 1880 after dissolving his partnership with Klingenberg & Leonard. His son, Harry, also joined the business. He bought whiteware from Bawo & Dotter and Count Thun of the Czech Republic, and other Bohemian factories. In 1898, he went bankrupt. The company reorganized and continued with the importing of porcelain but only from Limoges, France.

From 1908, Anna Leonard continued the business and it is during her 'reign' that this platter was imported. The mark dates it to about 1917. It is most likely of Limoges origin. Anna was a china decorator and she held many positions in the field. She was the vice-president of the Columbian Ceramic Society, president of the New York Society of Keramic Arts and she belonged to the National League of Mineral Painters. She had decorating clubs in various cities in the U.S. and a studio in Martha's Vineyard.

Excellent condition with no chips, cracks or crazing. Just one barely visible scuff line that turns into a light scratch (probably occurred during storage), only seen when tilted into the light. This platter appears to have been a cabinet piece. There are no utensil marks and the glaze is shiny and new looking. Beautiful!

Item ID: 111026