Superb Antique French Enamel Emaux Longwy Pottery Plate #2

Pottery : Antique : Majolica : French

 

This gorgeous plate is so typical of Longwy’s gorgeous enameled pottery! This style, which Longwy termed, “Emaux de Longwy”, was created around 1865 by the Italian artist, Amédée de Carenza, who was hired by Longwy’s owner, Hyppolite d’Huart to come up with a product that could compete against the wildly popular pieces being imported from China and Japan. Carenza was inspired by Persian cloisonné and set out to duplicate the look in earthenware. The process in creating this “Emaux” is painstaking, to say the least. The piece is first turned or molded and fired. Then the black outlines are transferred onto the surface. The areas between the lines are hand-filled with enamel and then fired again. Some pieces may have as many as 25 colors of enamel fired onto it. If the piece has the craquelure finish which Longwy made popular, it is then rubbed with India ink or Burnt Sienna to darken the “craquel”. This plate measures 6” in diameter. It is marked on the back with 2 of Longwy’s marks: the printed mark in use between 1900 and 1939 and the impressed date mark in use between 1870 and 1910. Unfortunately, the date mark is too unclear to be legible, but we can say for certain this dates to between 1900 and 1910. It is in superb condition with no chips, cracks, hairlines, or repairs. There is crazing with some discoloration on the back side of the plate and a tiny pin-head size fleabite on the rim. See the photos for details. Shipping weight: 1 lb. 11 oz. (Location: B4)

MEMBER: Majolica International Society

Item ID: RL040903