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Porcelain For Sale
Pierre Patrick Frey Gien Porcelain Flowers 6 Luncheon Salad Plate
Located in Valladolid, ES
Pierre Patrick Frey Gien Porcelain flowers 6 Luncheon Salad Plate Fine Chinoiserie French Gien porcelain from the lux atelier Pierre or Patrick Frey in the flowers pattern. Condi...
Category

1990s French French Provincial Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Meissen Mandarin Duck Max Esser Art Deco
By Meissen Porcelain, Max Esser
Located in Newark, England
Chinese Mandarin Duck From our Ceramics collection, we are delighted to offer this Meissen Mandarin Duck Modelled by Max Esser. The Meissen Mandarin Duck beautifully sculpted in nat...
Category

Early 20th Century German Art Deco Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Nine Green Glazed Porcelain Pieces - FOUR AVAILABLE
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of eight porcelain plates and a compote from the 20th century, with green glaze and foliage motifs. Created in France during the 20h century, this set of nine pieces total (fou...
Category

20th Century French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

12 Coalport for Tiffany 1899 Gold, Ivory and Cobalt Blue Dinner Plates
By Coalport for Tiffany
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A set of 12 rare Coalport, made for Tiffany and Co. dinner plates featuring six alternating reserves of two colors of cobalt blue enamel with profuse raised paste gold overlay. The p...
Category

1910s English Neoclassical Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Large Pair of Fine Carved Porcelain Jars with Covers
Located in New York, NY
A pair of fine carved soft white porcelain jars with covers, fish swimming in the stylish wave decorations.
Category

1970s Vintage Porcelain

Chinese Porcelain Plate with Dragon Decoration "Famille Verte" 18th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Very beautiful porcelain plate of the green family with dragon decoration in the 18th century. The decoration is finely executed by hand, we see a green and golden dragon, with friez...
Category

18th Century Chinese Antique Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

12 Coalport Grey and Polychrome Enamel Floral Shaped Rim Dinner Service Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Coalport dinner plates feature an unusual color combination of a soft gray border decorated with a vibrant palette of brightly pai...
Category

1920s English Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Piero Fornasetti Series 8 Coasters Commissioned by Banca Unione Milan
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Complete set of eight porcelain coasters produced in 1970 by Piero Fornasetti; they were expressly commissioned by the Banca Unione of Milan; the graphics with the decoration "Le Monete" represents eight variations on the theme of coins made in black and pure gold with the third firing; the term "third firing" means, in ceramics, the third firing that is applied to an object to add decorations, especially those in pure gold, a technique that requires great skill and precision; the saucers represent in numerical order 1)Boat, 2)Home, 3)idea, 4)Everything, 5)Holidays, 6)Christmas, 7)Student, 8)Car; they are contained in a golden cardboard case. These are Fine collectibles in excellent condition; the saucers were created in 1970 to be given as gifts by Banca Unione of Milan to its customers; they were made by Piero Fornasetti (1931-1988) a versatile and eclectic founder of the design and decorative arts atelier that bears his name. The Banca Unione was established in 1919 by Carlo Feltrinelli, father of Giangiacomo, a publisher very close to the left; among the minority shareholders were Bastogi (the largest Italian financial); since 1968 the bank became the property of the financier and fixer Michele Sindona (1920-1986) who secured the absolute majority along with the Vatican; the Bank dedicated itself to the Italian market by launching an unprecedented commercial policy, in an attempt to reconcile the interests of the institution with socially advanced actions. According to Sindona, in Italy, banks were only interested in the wealthy, snubbing the categories of workers with modest incomes. Sindona overturned this logic and, ahead of his time, sent Banca Unione promoters into the factories. Sindona was a member of the P2 lodge (card no. 0501) and had clear associations with Cosa Nostra and the Gambino family in the United States. Involved in the Calvi affair, he was behind the murder of Giorgio Ambrosoli. He died poisoned...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

PAIR OF EARLY 19th CENTURY POLYCHROME PORCELAIN FLOWER VASE
Located in Firenze, FI
Beautiful pair of polychrome porcelain flower holders, quadrangular in shape with wavy feet and edges. The accurate and detailed decoration, with golden motifs and linear and vegetal...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Dr Wall First Period Worcester Sugar Box England Circa 1775
Located in Katonah, NY
This 18th-century First Period Worcester Porcelain sugar box was hand painted featuring beautiful swags painted with green leaves, purple berries, and two-tone blue and yellow apples...
Category

Late 18th Century English Rococo Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Early 19th Century Darte Brothers Porcelain Plates
Located in Maidstone, GB
Pair of antique Darte Brothers cobalt blue porcelain plates magnificently painted with the French countryside, featuring cows, goats and sheep, decorated with gold rims. Each with th...
Category

1810s French Empire Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Copeland Plate, Reticulated with Sublime Flowers by Greatbatch, 1848 (2)
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful plate made by Copeland in 1848. It is decorated with a sublimely painted flower arrangement by the artist Greatbatch. We have two sets of 8 of these plates avai...
Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Copeland Plate, Reticulated, Sublime Flowers by Greatbatch, 1848 (3)
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful plate made by Copeland in 1848. It is decorated with a sublimely painted flower arrangement by the artist Greatbatch. We have two sets of 8 of these plates avai...
Category

1840s English Victorian Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Coalport Slop Bowl, Moss Green, Gilt and Flowers, patt. 967, Regency ca 1820
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful slop bowl made by Coalport around the year 1820. The bowl has a gadrooned rim, a deep moss green ground with a gilt trellis pattern, and beautiful hand painted fl...
Category

1820s English Regency Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Le Volte Celesti, Six Contemporary Decorated Tea Cups with Plates
Located in Milano, Lombardia
From the encounter between the historical archives of the Duomo di Milano and the imagery of Grand Tour by Vito Nesta, this unique collections of porcelains and fabrics were born. “Le Volte Celesti” creates, through the use of some historical sketches of frescoes dedicated to the naves of the Duomo, some geometric, almost kaleidoscopic games. Buyers, through the purchase of these collections, will contribute to the restructuring of the spiers of the Duomo as part of the proceeds will be donated to the Veneranda Fabbrica for this purpose. Set of 6 tea cups and plates.
Category

2010s Italian Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Butterflies, Contemporary Porcelain Vase with Decorative Design by Vito Nesta
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Display this butterfly porcelain vase on its own or add flowers to give the decor element some life. The design reminds of illustrations from an antique Lepidopterology book and make...
Category

2010s Italian Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Corteo Porcelain Set of 12 Dessert Plates, Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The triunphant entrance of a Sultan into a conquered city is the theme of these collection in which all the plates are part of the same image, connected amongst them and telling one ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Costantinopoli by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans Set of 6 Dessert Plates
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Set of 6 dessert plates of our the most stunning tableware collections: Costantinopoli.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Costantinopoli by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans Set of 6 Dessert Plates Two
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Set of 6 dessert plates of our the most stunning tableware collections: Costantinopoli.  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Le Carousel Porcelain Plate, Made in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
An hommage to the carousel that the king Louis XIV gave to the Louvre for the birth of his son. The Turkish caracthers were very well represented by the 'noblesse' of the Kingdom in...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Baroque Revival Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

La Menagerie Ottomane Flamingo Porcelain Dinner Plate Handmade in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Few people knew about the presence of exotic animals inside the Sultans' palaces. Most of them were gifts given to him by chief of other states and soon they became popular as they represented something unusual for the city. 'La Menagerie Ottomane...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

La Menagerie Ottomane Leopard Porcelaine Dinner Plate Handmade in Italy
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Few people knew about the presence of exotic animals inside the Sultans' palaces. Most of them were gifts given to him by chief of other states and soon they became popular as they represented something unusual for the city. 'La Menagerie Ottomane...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

2 Chinese Blue and White Porcelain Bowls from the Ship Wrecked "Tek Sing"
Located in Palm Beach, FL
In 1822 the Chinese Junk "Tek Sing" or true star sank in the south China sea, where the ship and its cargo remained until salvaged in 1999. These antique blue...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Chinese Export Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Ottoman Kaftan Porcelain plates Made in Italy, Kaft1
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The elegance of kaftans is, thanks to Les-Ottomans, translated into a unique dinnerware collection. These porcelain plates are made in Italy and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Tigers Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Horses' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an ottoman world made of exotic animals and ch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Women Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Women' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and cha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Monkeys Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Monkeys' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and c...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Horses Porcelain Dinner Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Horses' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an Ottoman world made of exotic animals and ch...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Elephants Porcelain Plate by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Contemporary dinner plate 'Elephants' designed by Vito Nesta for Les-Ottomans, a magical trip in an ottoman world made of exotic animals and...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Other Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall, 640 Park Ave Christie's, NY, 2006, 1st Ed
Located in valatie, NY
Collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall from 640 Park Ave: Christie's, New York, 17 May, 2006. Louis XIV, XV and XVI Furniture, Chinese Porcelains, 18th & 19th c bronzes, antique rugs an...
Category

Early 2000s American Porcelain

Materials

Paper

Herend Waldstein Porcelain Tete a Tete Service from the 1950s
Located in Milano, MI
Coffee service for two with porcelain tray by Herend Waldstein, made in the 1950s Tray: Ø cm 36 h cm 15,5 Herend porcelain is among the most prestigious and sought after in the wor...
Category

1950s Hungarian Art Deco Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Hermès : ‘Les Toucans’ Service Party -1986, 60 pieces
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
HERMES ‘ les Toucans Limoges Porcelain dinner service for HERMES with polychrome decoration Composed of : - 12 dinner plates 25,5 cm - 12 American plates 27,5 cm. - 12 Dessert p...
Category

Late 20th Century French Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Meissen Gold Ming Court Dragon Chinoiserie Tea Cup & Saucer Swords
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Meissen scalloped porcelain demitasse cup and saucer, numbered B117 with gold and red dot Chinese Court dragons. Measures: Saucer - 4.75” x 4.5” x 1.125” / Teacup - 3.5” x...
Category

Early 20th Century Ming Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Derby Porcelain Tea Service, Artichoke Pattern in Turquoise, ca 1785
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful and extremely rare tea service made by Derby in about 1785. The set has the distinctive "artichoke" moulding and a bright turquoise ground with the white artichok...
Category

1780s English George III Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Modern Set of 3 Unique Ceramic Artisan Vases Handmade in Spain, White / Natural
Located in Carballo, ES
Geometry set of 3 vases made of ceramic. The vases are vitrified so they are made to place water inside, with high quality stoneware in the Galician town of Buño, known throughout th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Modern Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain, Stoneware

Ten French Porcelain Dishes 18th Century Made Circa 1780
By Clignancourt Porcelain
Located in Katonah, NY
Made by Clignancourt Porcelain**, a factory with royal patronage in France in the 18th century, this set of dishes is painted in the most exquisite raspberry color, decorated with go...
Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Chinese Porcelain Jars
Located in New York, NY
Antique Chinese covered porcelain jars with various images including swans on two jars and babies on a third jar. Priced individually. From Shanxi province, circa 1900. Dimensions: ...
Category

Early 1900s Chinese Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Blue & White Chinese Large Lidded Temple Jar Vase Antiques Los Angeles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Important 1st quarter 19th century Circa 1800-1825 blue & white Chinoiserie China lidded temple jar Antiques depicting chrysanthemums flowers and leaves . Chrysanthemums, which symbolize happiness and vitality, are a popular autumn flower in China and carry special significance during lunar new year celebrations. Since ancient times, people have drunk wine from mums' fermented petals. It has Fu-dog Mask handles all around. Then on the Lid has a handle in the form of a fu-dog finial Antique...
Category

Early 19th Century Chinese Antique Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic

Four Antique English Porcelain Shell Shaped Dishes Made circa 1810
Located in Katonah, NY
WHY WE LOVE IT: The founder of Bardith, Edith Wolf, always said, "Miles Mason never made a piece of porcelain that wasn't beautiful." This group of four shell-shaped dishes was made in the Regency period, circa 1810. Like many of Miles Mason's best designs, this pattern has flair. It is one of his finest patterns. The two pairs of dishes are fully painted with pink and orange flowers with green leaves. The unexpected combination of pink with orange highlighted with green makes this a gorgeous pattern. Placed in a cabinet or on a wall, these dishes will make an entire room come alive. Dimensions: 8.5" tall x 8" wide Condition: Excellent Price: $620 for the group For an image of a dish in this pattern, see R Haggar and E Adams: "Mason Porcelain and Ironstone 1796-1853, fig 85. For more information on a variety of Miles Mason's patterns, see "Miles Mason Porcelain a Guide to Patterns and Shapes" by D. S. Skinner and V. Young and the Stoke-on Trent City Museum. Background of Miles Mason In 1796 Miles Mason entered into a partnership with the experienced porcelain manufacturer Thomas Wolfe...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Modern German Porcelain Dish with Beetles by Sofina Porcelain Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
This completely handmade and hands-free painted porcelain dish is made by Sofina porcelain in Bavaria. Hand-painted with a large stag beetle and other beetles. Rimmed with a platinum...
Category

2010s German Country Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Three First Period Worcester Brocade Pattern Dishes England circa 1775
Located in Katonah, NY
Known as the "Brocade" pattern, the design on these exquisite eighteenth-century dishes is complicated yet delicate. The inspiration for this pattern comes from seventeenth-century J...
Category

1770s Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Set of 12 Minton Gold Rimmed Porcelain Ball Dinner Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
One of Minton's most popular patterns is named "Porcelain Ball” which features a large diameter plate bordered by a gold and white floral decoratio...
Category

Mid-20th Century English Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Country Porcelain Pastry Dish Hand Painted Butterflies Sofina Boutique Kitzbühel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Large oval shaped completely handmade porcelain dish. The dish is hands-free painted with a naturalistic and detailed decor of a selection of butterflies. Rimmed with a fine platinum...
Category

2010s German Country Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Black Forest German Porcelain Vase with Hunting Scene Sofina Boutique Kitzbuehel
Located in Kitzbuhel, AT
Hand-painted porcelain vase is completely handmade and handpainted in Bavaria Germany. Rimmed with a 24-carat gold line. The decor is hands-free painted all round with a hunting scene. The black forest decor...
Category

2010s German Black Forest Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Set of 14 Copeland Late Spode Aesthetic Movement Green Parrot Dessert Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This wonderful set of 14 Copeland Late Spode dessert plates will surely add color and whimsy to your place settings. This pattern was originally in...
Category

Early 20th Century English Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Ottoman Peacock + Bees Managerie Dinner Plates
Located in Milan, IT
This elegant plate is part of the La Menagerie, a collection of six pieces with six distinctive designs, each belonging to a different animal. Elegantly rendering a taste of what the...
Category

2010s Italian Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Vintage Fish Service Plates in Bavarian Porcelain with Japanese decor
Located in Roma, IT
Fine Porcelain and Koi Carp dart in every direction on six different plates, not counting the serving plate. Don't be fooled by the Japanese decoration of these vintage plates becau...
Category

1960s German Anglo-Japanese Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Set of Six Porcelain Coffee Cups by Ginori Doccia Pittoria from the 1940s
Located in Milano, MI
Set of 6 hand-painted porcelain coffee cups by Ginori Doccia, Pittoria manufacture, made in the 1940s Saucer: Ø cm 11 Ginori 1735 is an Italian luxury goods company founded in 1735...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Porcelain Inkwell - Vieux Paris
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful porcelain inkwell, very decorative with colorful birds and gold colored accents. This object is not marked, but the style and design indicate that this is 'Vieux Paris' p...
Category

1880s French Napoleon III Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

C.1950's Théodore Haviland "Gold Encrusted Hearts" 21pc Porcelain Dinnerware Set
Located in Thiensville, WI
C.1940's - 1950's Théodore Haviland "Milford" "gold encrusted hearts" 21pc porcelain dinnerware set. This beautiful dinnerware set comes w...
Category

1950s American American Classical Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Rosenthal Versace Porcelain Charger Plate
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rosenthal Versace porcelain charger plate.
Category

Early 2000s Porcelain

Michaela Frey for AK Kaiser Midcentury Op Art Lidded Bisque Porcelain Jar, 1960s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Modern Op Art matte bone white lidded jar of high quality matte bisque porcelain. The exterior is decorated with a beautiful organic dotted circle relief pattern on both lid and body. The interior has been given a white smooth highly glossy glaze. Designed by Michaela Frey...
Category

Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

12 Antique English Dessert Plates, Cobalt Blue and Hand-Painted Florals Tiffany
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A classic pattern by Cauldon of England which was custom ordered through Tiffany's in many different color ways. We have had the pleasure of offering this beautiful pattern in cobalt...
Category

1920s Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Fine Midcentury Tapio Wirkkala Rosenthal Coffee Set Gilt White Porcelain 1960s
Located in Nierstein am Rhein, DE
Fine and exquisite Tapio Wirkkala for Rosenthal studio-linie gilt white porcelain coffee set for 6 persons, Germany around 1960s to 1970s. This set belongs to the cabinet pieces so r...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Hicks & Meigh Porcelain Dish, Cobalt Blue, Gilt, Flowers Patt.699 Regency Ca1820
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful square dessert dish made by Hicks & Meigh in about 1820. The dish has a deep cobalt blue ground, lavish gilding and panels with beautiful hand painted flowers. ...
Category

1820s British Regency Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Spode Porcelain Teacup Trio, Lavender Blue with Flower Sprays, Regency ca 1815
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful "true trio" consisting of a teacup, a coffee cup and a saucer, made by Spode in about 1815. It is decorated with pattern 2234 with a striking lavender or periwinkle blue border and finely painted flower sprays. In the late 18th and early 19th Century a "true trio" is how cups and saucers were sold; as you would never drink tea and coffee at the same time, why invest in an extra saucer? Josiah Spode was the great pioneer among the Georgian potters in England. Around the year 1800 he perfected the bone china recipe that has been used by everyone ever since, and he was also the leading potter behind the technique of transferware, making it possible for English potters to replace the import of Chinese china that had come to an end around that time, with their own. This was fundamental to a thriving industry that would last for about 150 years and provide half the world with their tableware. This set is made in the famous "London" shape, which was brought out by Spode in 1812 and was quickly copied by all other makers. It then remained the most popular shape for about 10 years. The set is potted in fine white porcelain - by the year 1810 Spode had perfected his recipe for bone china and it became beautifully smooth, white, thin and translucent. All three items are marked with the red hand painted SPODE mark and the pattern number 2234. CONDITION REPORT The set is in excellent antique condition without any damage, repairs or crazing. There is some minimal wear as visible in the pictures...
Category

1810s English Regency Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Qing Dynasty Chinese Blue & White Porcelain / Ceramic Plate, c. 1850
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This Chinese ceramic plate is dominated by a blue-grey glaze and features wonderful hand painted blue strokes. Once used as an every day plate it is now a great example of Chinese ce...
Category

Mid-19th Century Chinese Qing Antique Porcelain

Materials

Ceramic, Paint

Chelsea-Derby Chocolate Cup Set, Gilt Stripes, Puce Flowers, Rococo 1770-1775
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful chocolate cup set made by Chelsea-Derby between 1770 and 1775, which was the Rococo era. The set consists of a cup, a saucer and a cover, and is decorated in a st...
Category

1770s English Rococo Antique Porcelain

Materials

Porcelain

Antique and Vintage Porcelain Dinner Plates, Platters and Serveware for Sale

Today you’re likely to bring out your antique and vintage porcelain in order to dress up your dining table for a special meal.

Porcelain, a durable and nonporous kind of pottery made from clay and stone, was first made in China and spread across the world owing to the trade routes to the Far East established by Dutch and Portuguese merchants. Given its origin, English speakers called porcelain “fine china,” an expression you still might hear today. "Fine" indeed — for over a thousand years, it has been a highly sought-after material.

Meissen Porcelain, one of the first factories to create real porcelain outside Asia, popularized figurine centerpieces during the 18th century in Germany, while works by Capodimonte, a porcelain factory in Italy, are synonymous with flowers and notoriously hard to come by. Modern porcelain houses such as Maison Fragile of Limoges, France — long a hub of private porcelain manufacturing — keep the city’s long tradition alive while collaborating with venturesome contemporary artists such as illustrator Jean-Michel Tixier.

Porcelain is not totally clumsy-guest-proof, but it is surprisingly durable and easy to clean. Its low permeability and hardness have rendered porcelain wares a staple in kitchens and dining rooms as well as a common material for bathroom sinks and dental veneers. While it is tempting to store your porcelain behind closed glass cabinet doors and reserve it only for display, your porcelain dinner plates and serving platters can safely weather the “dangers” of the dining room and be used during meals.

Add different textures and colors to your table with dinner plates and pitchers of ceramic and silver or a porcelain lidded tureen, a serving dish with side handles that is often used for soups. Although porcelain and ceramic are both made in a kiln, porcelain is made with more refined clay and is stronger than ceramic because it is denser. 

On 1stDibs, browse an expansive collection of antique and vintage porcelain made in a variety of styles, including Regency, Scandinavian modern and other examples produced during the mid-century era, plus Rococo, which found its inspiration in nature and saw potters crafting animal figurines and integrating organic motifs such as floral patterns in their work.

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