French Dinner Plates

French Majolica oyster plate Orchies, circa 1900.

19th Century Rare French Majolica Reticulated Flowers Platter. 10.3 by 8.7 inches.  

Few 19th-century French faience services embody the elegance, artistic refinement and poetic spirit of the Japonisme movement as beautifully as Jules Vieillard Bordeaux’s celebrated “Nella” pattern. More than a dinner service, this remarkable ensemble is a hand-painted work of art, where every piece celebrates nature through an extraordinary variety of exotic birds, flowering branches, butterflies and delicate insects. No two plates are exactly alike, making each place setting a unique composition while preserving the perfect harmony of the whole. Founded in Bordeaux in 1845, the Jules Vieillard manufactory became one of France’s most prestigious ceramic producers. By the 1870s it employed nearly 1,300 craftsmen, ranking among the country’s leading faience manufacturers. Its artistic creations were celebrated at the great international exhibitions of the nineteenth century, including the Gold Medal awarded at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1878, a distinction that firmly established the international reputation of the Bordeaux factory. Created during this golden period, the “Nella” pattern is now regarded as one of the manufactory’s finest and rarest achievements. Inspired by the discovery of Japanese art in Europe during the second half of the nineteenth century, it perfectly reflects the new decorative language that transformed European ceramics. Every piece was individually moulded in fine faience, fired, then meticulously hand-painted by master decorators using coloured enamels before receiving its final transparent glaze and being fired once again. This demanding process ensured exceptional brilliance while allowing each painter complete artistic freedom. Rather than reproducing a single repetitive design, every plate was intentionally decorated with its own individual composition. Kingfishers, parrots and other exotic birds rest upon blossoming branches of prunus, peonies, irises and wild roses. Butterflies, dragonflies and tiny ladybirds animate the white ground with remarkable delicacy, creating the impression of a living garden. The asymmetrical compositions, generous areas of untouched white and graceful movement throughout the decoration perfectly express the refined aesthetic of French Japonisme. Complete “Nella” services have become extraordinarily scarce. Intended for everyday use within distinguished households, most examples were gradually dispersed or damaged over nearly one hundred and fifty years. Today, large coherent ensembles with their original serving pieces seldom appear on the international market. According to family history, this exceptional service remained for generations in an elegant maison de maître on the French Riviera before entering the antiques market. Unlike most surviving examples, which are composed predominantly of plates, this magnificent ensemble retains an unusually rich selection of original serving pieces together with its complete coffee service, making it equally desirable for collectors, designers and prestigious private residences. Composition — 83 Pieces * 27 Dinner Plates – Ø 25 cm (9.84 in) * 14 Soup Plates – Ø 25.5 cm (10.04 in) * 16 Dessert Plates – Ø 22.5 cm (8.86 in) * 1 Covered Soup Tureen * 2 Covered Vegetable Tureens * 1 Covered Serving Dish * 2 Large Oval Serving Platters * 1 Large Fish Platter * 1 Shell-Shaped Compotier * 2 Covered Sauce Boats with Attached Stands * 1 Covered Mustard Pot * 1 Coffee Pot * 1 Covered Sugar Bowl * 1 Milk Jug * 10 Coffee Cups * 11 Coffee Saucers Every piece bears the JVB factory mark beneath, while the principal serving pieces are additionally marked “Nella”, confirming the authenticity of this prestigious model. The overall condition is exceptional considering its age of approximately 150 years. The enamels retain remarkable freshness and brilliance, while the glaze remains beautifully preserved. Minor imperfections are limited to a few discreet hairlines, one deep serving dish displaying slight age-related darkening, one coffee saucer with noticeable staining and the expected traces of careful domestic use accumulated over generations. These small imperfections are entirely consistent with the age of the service and do not detract from its extraordinary visual impact. More than simply an antique dinner service...

A beautiful set of five antique French majolica plates, featuring an elegant relief design of vine leaves, grape clusters, and branches. Their rich palette of greens, browns, and cre...

French Majolica strawberries plate circa 1880 Luneville.

French Majolica Green Oyster Plate Luneville circa 1920. Reference: Page 43 "Oyster plates" of J. Karsnitz. 4 plates are available.

A child’s assiette parlante, a talking plate, illustrated by Benjamin Rabier for Sarreguemines, France – circa 1900. Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939), was a French children’s author, pl...

Unusual French Majolica asparagus plate with 3 spaces unsigned, circa 1890.

A gorgeous antique French Sarreguemines majolica oyster plate, circa 1870. Maker's mark and model number on reverse (this is an older model). It displays beautifully with vibrant col...

French green Majolica leaves plate signed Montereau, circa 1890.

Green Majolica oyster plate, six white wells on a green basket weave, circa 1890 signed Longchamp.

Colorful Majolica asparagus plate Salins, circa 1890.   

Majolica oyster plate signed Sarreguemines, circa 1950.

French green Majolica leaves plate signed Montereau, circa 1890.

Majolica oyster plate with different flowers on each shells, circa 1900 signed Longchamp.  

Majolica strawberries plate signed Sarreguemines Majolica, circa 1870. 8 plates are available.  

A child’s assiette parlante, a talking plate, illustrated by Benjamin Rabier for Sarreguemines, France – circa 1900. Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939), was a French children’s author, pla...

Majolica plate with two parakeets on a very rare pink background with oranges of Salins, circa 1890.  

French Faience Plate Henriot Quimper Circa 1950. woman from Brittany with a spinning wheel. 10.5 inches diameter.

French Majolica strawberries plate Orchies, circa 1890.

French Majolica pink daisy plate Orchies, circa 1890.

French Majolica Parrots & Bamboo Plate Salins, circa 1890.    

French Majolica blue, pink and grey oyster plate unsigned from Fives Lille, circa 1890.

Decorative ceramic plate made in France, decorated with a design inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso. The central motif depicts two stylized figures in motion, drawn in black and enhanced with graphic touches of green, red, and blue, characteristic of the artist's pictorial vocabulary. An emblematic piece embodying the dialogue between modern art and 20th-century decorative arts, produced in the tradition of French artistic ceramics. Main Features : Decorative ceramic plate France, 20th century Design inspired by Pablo Picasso Stylized figures and expressive graphic composition Polychrome palette: black, blue, green, and red Marked on the reverse (France) Excellent collector's item or wall decoration A fusion of modern art and decorative ceramics Keywords : Picasso plate, Picasso ceramics France, modern decorative plate, French modern art, decorative cubism, 20th-century artistic ceramics, collectible plate, French art and design, modern wall decoration, Vallauris Picasso...

French Majolica white daisy plate Orchies, circa 1890.

Elegant blue and white oyster plate signed Bordeaux Vieillard, circa 1890. Six wells surrounded by blue seaweeds of different kinds. Ref / 2732.

Set of 2 French Green Majolica Plates – Sarreguemines Manufacture – 20th Century Description: This is a set of four majolica plates, crafted in France during the 20th century by the ...

Rare Set of 6 French Majolica Palm Plate Sarreguemines, circa 1870. Diameter / 7.5 inches.

Rare 19th century Majolica oyster plate with pastels colors, shells and seaweeds signed Gien.

French porcelain oyster plate with seaweeds Limoges, circa 1900.

Mid-Century Ceramic Red Oyster Plate Vallauris circa 1950. 9 colors available. pink,navy blue,yellow,orange,green,purple,black,aqua,red.

French Majolica oyster plate Orchies, circa 1900.

Unique set of 11 hand decorated porcelain ceramic dinner plates featuring various fish using exuberant brushstrokes. Each plate signed on back with the name of fish depicted.

This striking set comprises twelve majolica oyster plates and one large matching serving platter, beautifully crafted in the style of Longchamp, France. Each plate features a vivid g...

This elegant French dinner service was crafted by A. Lanternier & Cie in Limoges, renowned for producing some of the finest porcelain of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The h...

French Majolica asparagus plate Onnaing, circa 1890.

An elegant and refined vintage French porcelain dinner service comprising approximately 45 pieces, beautifully decorated with delicate hand-painted pink rose motifs and enriched with...

Majolica asparagus plate signed Luneville Keller & Guerin, circa 1890.

This exquisite antique Limoges porcelain dinnerware set by F. Legrand & Cie showcases an exceptional polychrome and gold-accented design, embodying the timeless elegance of French cr...

This exquisite 52-piece porcelain dinner service, crafted by Sèvres in the 19th century, exemplifies the refined artistry and heritage of French porcelain. Each piece features a hand-painted burgundy rim with gilded accents, along with a monogram “B” crowned with a comital coronet—a mark of aristocratic prestige. The crown, characterized by nine pearls...

This exquisite vintage dinnerware set, likely crafted in fine Limoges porcelain, features delicate floral patterns and gold accents. Each piece...

19th Century Leaves Plate Creil & Montereau.

French aqua turquoise Majolica oyster plate signed Sarreguemines Majolica, circa 1870. 6 shells and space for the lemon on the center.

19th Century Plate signed Vieillard Bordeaux service Nella. Naturalist plate with a kingfisher, an insect , water lilies

French Majolica blue, pink and grey oyster plate unsigned from Fives Lille, circa 1890.

French Majolica bird with grapes plate signed Sarreguemines, circa 1880.

This rare French mid-century ceramic snail set by Marius Giuge, produced in Vallauris during the 1960s, is a charming and highly collectible example of postwar French tableware. The ...

French Majolica oyster plate with flowers circa 1890 signed Longchamp.

French Majolica grape leaves plate Onnaing, circa 1900.

A stunning Limoges porcelain dinner service, marked "U.C. Limoges France," reflecting French craftsmanship and the timeless elegance of tableware. This set captivates with the quali...

Set of 6 Green Majolica Leaf Plate signed Gien Primefleur Circa 1950.

French faience oyster plate signed Henriot Quimper, circa 1930.

A child’s assiette parlante, a talking plate, illustrated by Benjamin Rabier for Sarreguemines, France – circa 1900. Benjamin Rabier (1864-1939), was a French children’s author, pla...

French Majolica acanthus leaves plates, circa 1880.

19th Century French blue & white faience dinner plate signed "Francois" Sarreguemines.

19th century blue & white dessert plate flora signed Creil & Montereau.

An exceptional rare dinner service of 92 pieces in fine French earthenware, made by the esteemed faience manufacturer Jules Vieillard of Bordeaux. The charming blue and white design ...

Exquisite fine cream faience tableware set adorned with scattered roses and gold trim. The set consists of 62 pieces and would be ideal for casual dining, or would make an eyecatchin...

French Majolica plate Onnaing Circa 1890. flowers and blackberries.

Majolica plate two parakeets on a blue background with oranges Salins, circa 1890.