Antique Luncheon Plates SARREGUEMINES French Faience -Set of 8

This matching set of eight faience luncheon plates is from Sarreguemines, France, made by the firm of Utzschneider et Cie (Utzschneider and Company). The pattern is Montmorency, with the well of each plate decorated with burgundy, blue and yellow flowers that surround a Chinese style fence in the same colors. The lip with its scalloped yellow rim has six panels, each with a single flower, interspersed with six panels decorated with a green and burgundy trellis design.  

One of the plates has an old, small chip on the underside and another one has an area of underglaze staining, also on the underside; we've shown those in our photographs. The rest of the plates are in very good condition on both sides, with no utensil marks, crazing or staining. Each plate measures 8 1/2 inches across and weighs 11 ounces. The mark in burgundy cursive script on the underside of each plate is "Sarreguemines" overlaid with the letters "U & C" for Utzschneider et Cie, used between the years 1875 to 1900. The earthenware set is particularly suited to French country décor, but the classic designs and cheerful colors are a pleasure in any setting.

>>>This description of the pattern is from the 1992 book "Faiences de Sarreguemines, les arts de la table. (Faiences of Sarreguemines Tableware) by Émile Decker and Christian Thévenin:

 "Montmorency, central decoration of a balustrade and flowers treated in the oriental manner, on the wing, alternating green grids and flowers in white reserves. This motif imitates the productions of Rouen, in particular those of Guillibaud (1720-1749)." The authors state that "this motif {pattern name} bears the name of the Duke of Montmorency-Luxembourg who received at the beginning of the 18th century from the City of Rouen a service decorated with the arms of his family.” (pages 85 and 87).

FF 5164