Handpainted Plates

Hand painted porcelain plate A, 8.375 inches (21.2 cm)

Today I am sharing two unique hand painted Asian porcelain plates from my collection.  The first plate, (above) is exquisitely painted, with hundreds of fine tiny brush strokes, and hundreds of raised white bumps where the white background shows through.  When I hold it I feel like I am holding a masterpiece from a time gone by.  I run my hands over the bumps with guilty pleasure, because if this piece of art were in a museum I would never be able to stroke it or even touch it.  The plate is fragile, impossible to reproduce, and it's mine to hold. (I am a tactile person as well as visual - I want to touch items I find visually beautiful). 

Hand painted porcelain plate A

Maybe the blog community could help me --- I would love to know if this plate is Japanese or Chinese (or other).  The photo mosaic shows the "signature" from the back of the plate. I don't even know which way is up or down on this signature.  If anyone could care to enlighten me, I would appreciate it - maybe you or a friend can read either Japanese or Chinese...?? 

Hand painted porcelain plate B, 8.375 inches (21.2 cm)

The second plate (above) is signed the same way as the first plate, but the artwork is very different.  Both plates have intensely tiny and thin strokes precisely laid down, with an oriental feel.  Both porcelain plates are 8.375 inch (21.2 cm) across. 

Plate B, detail of brush strokes in tree

I know that the plates are porcelain because porcelain is translucent when held up to the light.  The porcelain is fragile - there is a small crack in both plates, in plate 1 the crack goes through the top flying bird.  That didn't stop me from buying the plates.  I have many cracked and chipped items that I cherish anyway, and sometimes the chip or crack is the reason I am able to afford the item I am looking at.  But often a beautiful item will be bypassed by others because the style isn't fashionable or contemporary, or because people don't know what to do with an odd miscellaneous plate.  I'm happy to take home these pieces, and protect them for several more years (and hopefully decades).  I think of my neglected and unwanted treasures as my orphans.  I purchased both of these wonderful plates with soaring songbirds at an estate sale - for a song.

Plate B, brushstroke detail. The bird is .75 inches across.
What kind of brush did the artist use to paint that? 

Click on the images to see them enlarged. 


[OK, skip this part unless you are really interested.]  Here is a detailed description of the plate A, my favorite.  - A thin black border less then .25 inches thick has golden gilt lines decorating it.  Inside this border, the next inch on the rim of the plate has over 40 delicate light blue 5 petaled flowers and many more buds and petals making up a blue ground of airy flowers.  Each of these light blue flowers has a ring of about 20 really small dark blue dots around the center section of tiny lines.  (The artist missed the dark dots in one of the flowers - I noticed it as I was counting the flowers.)  Where the white porcelain shows through, there are raised white dots of paint - about 25 dots in a quarter of an inch, and yet none of the dots touch.  I know I would have a hard time painting that precisely.  Delicate sage foliage spreads from the blue in towards the center of the plate, and among the foliage pastel pink and yellow flowers emerge.  These plants and flowers are on a white background, with more of those dots, but the white dots here show more wear.  The center of the plate has an abstract circle made up of the blue flower petals in the rim, but here arranged in a mandala or kaleidoscope fashion.  And three little brush stoke birds nestle in the foliage, or fly in the white dotted air.

If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

Austrian Plate

China Finds

Flow Blue China

Rosenthal

Spring Hutch

Kent china

Easter Hutch

I am linking to these parties:

Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 146 (Entry 25 of 55.)
Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 16 of 16.)                 
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur 201, (Entry 390 of 441.) *

Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home Thur 116 (Entry 84 of 159.)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 21 (Entry 81 of 94.) 
Faith Grace: Pearls and Lace Thur 133 (Entry 18 of 21.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 106 (Entry 28 of ?.)    
Domesblissity: Thriving on Thurs 64 (Entry 107 of 110.)
Katherine: Thurs Favorite Things 85 (Entry 251 of 279.)
House of Hepworths: Hooking Up 145 (Entry 289 of 326.)
Glimpse inside: Catch a Glimpse 128 (Entry 222 of 248.)  
Life on Lakeshore: Bouquet of Talent Thur 32 (Entry 161)
Jan Olson: Share your Cup of Tea Thur 55 (Entry 81 of 97.)
From my Porch: Treasure Hunt Thur 104 (Entry 3 of 51) 
Blue Egg: Vintage Love Thur (Entry 18 of 25)               
Creative Princess: Its a Party 103 (Entry 119 of 128)   
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 89 of 159)             

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 152 of 326) 
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 136 (Entry 128 of 235)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 28 of 270.)   
Chic on a Shoestring: Flaunt it Fri 151 (Entry 13 of 239.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 83 of 401)            
Snap: Show and Tell 44 (Entry 182 of 187.)  
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 87 of 159) 
Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 501 of 732.)

Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 184 (Entry 90 of 174.) 

Stephanie Lynn: Sunday Showcase 192 (Entry 213 of 271.)
The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday 149 (Entry 30 of 89.)
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop 77 (Entry 146 of 523.) 
BNOTP: Metamorphis Mon 223 (Entry 80 of 211.) *
Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 99 (Entry 19 of 71)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 121 (Entry 54 of 123) h
Cedarhill Ranch: The Sun Scoop 64 (Entry 32 of 335)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 71 of 197)
Uncommon Design: Mon Funday 15 (Entry 437 of 658.) 
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 161 (Entry 42 of 271.)

Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 132  (Entry 1 of 250.)

* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 162 (Entry 36 of 220.)
Diamond in the Stuff: Time to Shine 27 (Entry 72 of 130.)
Knick of Time: Knick of Time Tue 84 (Entry 17 of 75.)
Rain on a Tin Roof: Give Me the Goods 6 (Entry 106 of 158.) 
Serendipity and Spice: Manic Mon 429 (Entry x of ?)
Homemaker: Creative bloggers 109 (Entry 151 of 180.) 

Little Read House: Mosaic Monday (Entry 40 of 58.)
Maleviks Rose: Saturday Show Off (Entry 71 of 71)
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style 42 (Entry 1 of 40b.)

Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 116 (Entry 237 of 352.) *
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 1097 (Entry 86 of 192.)
Handy: Wicked Awesome Wed 108 (Entry 15 of 127.) 
Family Home: Wow us Wed (Entry 43 of 97.)
Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wed 168 (Entry 3 of 399.)
Snap Creativity: Show and Tell 45 (Entry 60 of 152.)
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed 30 (Entry 67 of 217.)

Ivy and Elephants: Whats it Wed (Entry 19 of 125.)
111856

Spring Hutch Version 2

Spring arrangement of vintage china

Spring is here so I changed the china in my hutch (welsh dresser), just before my daughter's birthday. 

(The previous display was Christmas-y - oops!  kind of behind...)  What's a Welsh Dresser?  See this post here.

Detail of China in hutch

 

Changing out the display is easier then dusting the old arrangement, and more fun as well. 

(Most things are more fun than dusting - and yet I collect...) 
 

[The teacup and saucer are Royal Albert's English Bone China "violets", the small red pitcher is "English Chippendale" by Johnson Brothers, the plates on the left are Haviland]

Detail of china and bunnies

 

Changing my china display is always an scavenger hunt in my basement - I buy miscellaneous dishes at estate and rummage sales, and often don't really remember what I have and where it is.  I knew I had dishes with violets, and Haviland china, so I searched them out of all sorts of nooks and crannies.  It was an opportunity to re-find treasure I have forgotten about.

Spring China

[The white rabbit sculpture is labeled "Isabelle de Borchgrave for Marshall Fields" on the bottom.  I really like how it is sculpted, and I use it often.]


I haven't shown a full length photo of the Welsh dresser recently, so here is one below.  I don't usually seasonally arrange the top and bottom, so ignore that in my photo.

Welsh dresser with spring arrangement

 

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

I am linking to these parties:
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style 40 (Entry 19 of 31.)
Ivy and Elephants: Whats it Wed 70 (Entry 44 of 110.) 
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 44 of 192.)
Family Home: Wow us Wed (Entry 55 of 96.)
Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wed 166 (Entry 246 of 483.)
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 64 of 171.)
Feeding Big: In and Out of the Kitchen 13 (Entry 101 of 108.)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 114 (Entry 244 of 393.)
Southern Lovely: Show Share 88 (Entry 179 of 329.)
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 107 (Entry 168 of 226.)
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur 200 (Entry 57) *
Blue Egg Brown Nest: Vintage Love (Entry 8 of 22.)

Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 6 of 18.)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur (Entry 26 of 81.) 

Faith Grace: Pearls and Lace Thur 132 (Entry 4 of 21.)  
Domesblissity: Thriving on Thurs 63 (Entry 99 of 107.) 
Katherine: Thurs Favorite Things 84 (Entry 258 of 308.) 
House of Hepworths: Hooking Up 144 (Entry 283 of 318.) 
Glimpse inside: Catch a Glimpse 127 (Entry 159 of 196.) 
From my Porch: Treasure Hunt Thur 103 (Entry 109 of 117.) 
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 115 (Entry 36 of 171.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 105 (Entry 21 of 56.)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 108 of 342.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 135 (Entry 53 of 224.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 129 of 308.) *
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 150 (Entry 208 of 252.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 106 of 386.)
Shabby Art: Shabbilicious Fri (Entry 45 of 81.)
Stone Gable: Tips and Tidbits 44 (Entry 151 of 161.) 
Creative Princess: Its a Party 102 (Entry 129 of 131.)
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 88) 
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 145 (Entry 54 of 69.) 

Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 318 of 687.) 
Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 183 (Entry 47 of 163.) *

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 123 of 334.)

Natasha in Oz: Say G'day Sat 64 (Entry 48 of 172.)

Steph Under the Table: Sun Showcase 191 (Entry 273 of 325.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sun 147 (Entry 42 of 73.) 
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop 76 (Entry 63 of 529.) 
Penny: Christmas in April (Entry 76 of 210.)
NiftyThings: Nifty Thrifty Sun 105 (Entry 126 of 340.)  
Too Much: Get Schooled Sat 73 (Entry 2 of 212.)
Knick of Time: Knick of Time 72 (Entry 77 of 78.) 
Timewashed: Blissful Whites Wed (Entry 39 of 43.)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 120 (Entry 21 of 131.)
Create with Joy: Inspire Me Mon 68 (Entry 76 of 210)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 222 (Entry 121 of 181) 
*Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 98 (Entry 14 of 65.)
I should be: Mop it up Mon 64 (Entry 207)
Craft Berry Bush: Inspiration Gallery 32 (Entry 220)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 65)
Twigg Studios: Sunday Showoff (Entry 76)
Uncommon Design: Monday Funday 14 (Entry 202) 

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 160 (Entry 154)

Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 131  (Entry 128) 
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 161 (Entry 107) 
Cedar Hill: Tues The Scoop 63 (Entry 206)
Redoux Interiors: Link Party 102 (Entry 66)

Featured on A Stroll thru Life and Modern Vintage Life
106909

Imperial Austria Plate

Austrian china plate

Can you love the beauty of an object, like the plate above?  Can you study an object, ponder the design choices and techniques used to make it, wonder about the lifestyles and skills of the craftsman and the customer it was made for?  I can, and sometimes I think that must make me a boring person.  But on the other hand, I think it makes me able to appreciate life, and history, deeply, in my otherwise chaotic world.  (I have my four teenagers at home to distract me, if I take several minutes to enjoy something, you should trust me that I'm not spending my whole day this way.  Besides, the plate is breakable - if I don't enjoy it now, who knows how long it will last with all these teens!)

I wonder if this plate was created as part of a set for an aristocrat; or was it created as a souvenir for wealthy travelers on a European tour?  Were the colors and combination of roses, purple painted border and elaborate gilt work chosen as because they were in-style, or because they stood out?  Was the plate 'mass produced' and painted by an assembly line of painters, or did it take one craftsperson a half a day to paint it? 

Austrian china plate

The back of the plate has a manufacturer mark - Imperial PSL Princess Austria. An internet site I found tells me the mark on the back was probably used from 1914-1918.  I picture someone in Europe, pre World War I getting paid to lavish time, attention, and skill to create a plate much more lavish then the ones they went home at the end of the night to eat on.  Imperial was probably the manufacturer, and Princess may be the name of the plate style, although even the millions of plates on replacements.com don't show anything close to this design.  But I  guess I like the idea that this plate was made for a princess - but perhaps the plate was made for and sold to a tourist who wanted to take home a lavish plate like one they imagined that royalty ate off of.  

Austrian china plate detail

I like the 'extreme' detail of this plate, which I think must have been created for display only, not for actually eating on.  The gold gilding has hundreds of high relief bumps on it that I think would make using this plate for food impractical. (I think repeatedly using a plate like this would rub the bumps off)  

I bought this (somewhat gaudy) plate nearly 100 years after it was made for a fraction of the price of what a single fine china plate costs today at a department store, and I got something unique that resembles nothing being manufactured today (that I know of).  And now I am sharing it with you and the various parties listed below...

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

My Collection of all Hutch Posts!

 

 

 

 

 

I am linking to these parties:
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 114 (Entry 156 of 163.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 104 (Entry 57 of 63.)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 318 of 330.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 134 (Entry 206 of 212.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 283 of 306.)
Chic: Flaunt it Fri 149 (Entry 199 of 219.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 370 of 395.)
Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 491 of 768.) 
Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 182 (Entry 72 of 195.)

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 239 of 359.)

Natasha in Oz: Say G'day Sat (Entry 72 of 113.)  
Stef Lynn: Sunday Showcase 148 (Entry 118 of 271.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday 146 (Entry 45 of 88.)
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop 75 (Entry 345 of 444) 
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 148 of 155) 
NiftyThings: Nifty Thrifty Sun 104 (Entry 273 of 302.)  
Too Much: Get Schooled Sat 72 (Entry 206 of 211.)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 119 (Entry 50 of 127)
Create with Joy: Inspire Me Mon 67 (Entry 118)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 221 (Entry 155 of 195.) 
*Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 97 (Entry 5 of 67.)
I should be: Mop it up Mon 63 (Entry 312 of 498.)
Craft Berry Bush: Inspiration Gallery 31 (Entry 267 of 268.)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 104 of 174.)
Twigg Studios: Sunday Showoff (Entry 81 of 88.)
Uncommon Design: Monday Funday 13 (Entry 287 of 640.)

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues  (Entry 237)

Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 130  (Entry 194) 
* Stroll Life: Table Top Tues 160 (Entry 136) 
Diamond: Time to Shine 112 (Entry 117)
Cedar Hill: The Scoop 62 (Entry 309)
Primp: Primp you Stuff Wed 89 (Entry 105) 
Little Read House: Mosaic Monday (Entry 47)

106119

Easter Eggs dyed

Easter Bunny Vignette

I meant to decorate the hutch for Easter, but I only pulled together this vignette in a corner of it.  The bunnies are rummage sale finds.  The tumblers and glassware were collected in the last year.

Easter Bunny Detail

Even thought the bunnies are cheap, (probably from a dollar store), cute little bunny sculptures now make me smile, and I find myself picking them up at rummage sales often.  I hope to make a spring hutch arrangement soon.

Sometimes, the accomplishment is just getting Easter Eggs dyed (with the teenagers.)  Accomplished the Saturday before Easter...  

Easter Eggs

We used the pastel eggs in my vintage egg platter (below)...  My 15 year old suggested the rainbow arrangement. (He took an interest!  :)

Easter Eggs on vintage egg tray

I didn't have lofty goals this Easter, besides surviving the earlier then usual school spring break.

I hope you had a blessed Easter.  Cherish your loved ones.


Click on the images to see them enlarged. 

If you enjoyed this post you might also like:

Heart Quilt

Batik Scrap Quilt

Butterfly Bling

Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 112 (Entry 294 of 336.) h
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 165 of 225.)
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style 38 (Entry 6 of 26.)
Handy: Wicked Awesome Wed 104 (Entry 67 of 93.)
Ivy and Elephants: Whats it Wed 68 (Entry 44 of 70.) 
Rose Chintz Cottage: Home Wed (Entry 15 of 36.)
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 108 of 166.) 

Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 143 (Entry 40 of 89.)
Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 4 of 19.)
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur 198, (Entry 155 of 489.)
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 113 (Entry 1 of 136.)

A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 18 (Entry 52 of 98.)
Faith Grace: Pearls and Lace Thur 130 (Entry 10 of 29.)
From My Porch: Treasure Hunt Thur 101 (Entry 78 of 116.) 

Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri (Entry 1 of 54.)
Rooted in Thyme: Simple and Sweet Fri 57 (Entry 25 of 72.)
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 52 of 317.)

Imparting Grace: Grace at Home 53 (Entry 38 of 68.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 133 (Entry 37 of 226.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 92 of 178.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 148 (Entry 36 of 227.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 96 of 374.)
Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 129 of 712.) 
Jen: Fabulously Creative Fri (Entry 137 of 148.)
Dedicated: Anything Blue Fri 3 (Entry 105 of 116.)

Natasha in Oz: Say G'day Sat (Entry 23 of 113.)

Funky Junk: Sat Night Special (Entry 66 of 185.) *

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 254 of 358.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday 145 (Entry 22 of  89.)
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop (Entry 170 of 569+)

104766