While collecting, I have purchased beautiful objects which might be considered artistic but they do not fall into what one might call the focus of my collection.  Most of my collection is of paintings and prints.  Today, I present to you a few pieces which I have come across which are not in these categories and, honestly, I do have a love of beautiful plates; whether they be Dutch, German, or Spanish or from further afield.

Rosenthal keramik bowl

A small bowl from the #Rosenthal porcelain company.  Now-a-days Rosenthal is known for its china/tableware but they also produce speciality items, limited editions and figurines.  Rosenthal porcelain has been made  in Selb (Bavaria) since 1880 and they continue to make fine quality tableware and figurines to this day.  This lovely tri-legged bowl could be a bonbon dish.  It is not from a patterned set and is possibly a one-off from their pottery line.

From Germany to Holland for a delft plate.  A very colourful plate by Henk van Wensveen who was a main artist at the Regina factory after the war.  He only painted #polydelfts or multi-coloured plates while at the factory.

Royal Delft Plate
by Henk van Wensveen

Wonderfully coloured flowers ring the plate and the central bouquet which centres an exotic bird of varied colours.  All plates are painted free-hand, so no two are alike. Van Wensveen’s plates are highly favoured by many for their colouring and themes.  It is easy to see why.

And to my last plate.  It is one which I only recently acquired and comes from Spain.  It is, I believe, what one calls #lusterware.  When I first saw this plate I loved the colouring.  The copper colour against the deep blue gives this plate a warmth and depth.

Spanish Lusterware
J J Escobar painter
J Gimeno potter

Spanish Lusterware Pate
J J Escobar painter
J Gimeno potter

The plate is 38cm in diameter, making it quite large and heavy.  Escobar and Gimeno were both influential in the Spanish ceramic resurgence early in the twentieth century.  They delved into history to find the traditional ways of mixing colours and firing their works.  A very nice example of  lusterware from Spain decorated in 15th century style.