RARE HP Limoges 12pc GAME PLATES, ENCRUSTED GOLD ENAMEL

The kind of plates that just cannot be found today for anything under $1000 per plate, and even then, never with the opulent elegance and artistic quality of these antique ones! Never used at table, not a single spot or scrape of a utensil, and certainly displayed and adored as cabinet plates all these years, this has been an heirloom set of 12 game plates that has been treasured! Matching pairs of hand painted vignettes featuring a variety of game birds, the artist's signature "Robert" on each, they are simply stunning! I have never seen a finer quality set. Thick encrusted gold border and hand applied impasto gold enameled jewel-dots as garland give these a fitting framework that brings them to the table as a decorative cover plate, but you'll want to lift them when you place the plate from which your quail or duck course is to be served - don't you dare allow a knife or fork to ruin these - please! I would date these late 1800s to as late as 1910, no later. A bit about the company through which this fine set was originally distributed: Ovington: late 1800s to early 1900s. The name 'Ovington' is always an assurance that the goods carrying the name were of fine quality and represent the type of goods chosen for and marketed to the more affluent of New York society up until the store closed in early 1900s. Fine china, enamels, elegant accoutrement of a 'home' variety, Ovington inventory sets were commissioned from French and English makers of finest quality, and made for trade through the Ovington's NYC store. Ovington's was a very upscale store located on New York city's posh 5th avenue and specializing in imported china and glass, high-end specialty goods such as French enamels of this type. The store was founded by EDWARD JUDSON OVINGTON, (b. 1831) of New York City, along with his brother Theodore, owners of Ovington's, China and Glass Store, on Fifth Avenue, N.Y Edward died in 1909 in France, the country of primary export contracts with the Ovington store.

Excellent condition on 11 plates, the 12th one (one of the wild turkey plates) has a restoration to an old break - clean break into 2 pieces, you can see a faint line but in cabinet display it will not detract. (One might improve upon it with a professional restoration, but displays brilliantly as it is). No other damage or flaws to report. Superbly painted, each one is a work of art worthy of a museum display. You will NOT be disappointed in this magnificent set!