This pristine set of pate-sur-pate soup bowls features reserves of classical cameo heads and heavy 22-karat raised paste gold gilding. The cameos are composed of white slip set on a blue background, they are ringed by gold beading, topped by laurel and feature 2 lotus flowers on the bottom. On either side of the cameos cornucopia overflowing with flowers are featured, these are linked to three ornaments composed of scrolling acanthus leaves. These plates demonstrate not one but two of the great ceramic techniques perfected at Minton: pate-sur-pate and raised paste gold.

On each plate: 1 Plaque signed "A. Birks" 2 Plaques signed "AB", for Albion Birks, the last Minton pate-sur-pate artist to apprentice under the legendary Louis Solon.

Minton Pattern: H2575, made for Davis Collamore, a luxury New York City store at the turn of the century. Gilder mark on back.

Diameter: 9 inches,
Condition: Excellent,
Color: Ivory,
Date 1930

Pate-sur-pate is a French term meaning "paste on paste". It is a method of porcelain decoration in which a relief design is created on an unfired, unglazed body by applying successive layers of white slip or liquid clay with a brush. While the effect is somewhat similar to other types of relief decoration, unlike Jasperware, for which Wedgwood is famous, a mold is not used, and the artist is able to achieve translucency. The pate-sur-pate technique was developed in France. The technique was perfected at Minton by Louis Solon, a former Sevres artist.

References: Plates similar to these were shown in the Minton Museum (see Bonhams, "Masterpieces of Minton", July 23, 2002, Lots 231 and 233). They are also documented in "The Vine Pottery, Birks Rawlings and Co. Influences from Minton and Spode-Copeland", page 33, Albion Birks has pieces in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, that can be seen on their website.

Layaway available for this item.

Search Terms: Albion Birks, Minton china, Minton Plates, gilded plates, English china, antique plates, antique china

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