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Hand-painted design for a ceramic plate or platter in a Roman revival style. A central coat of arms emblazoned with a ram holding arrows is surrounded by an elaborate design of winged cupids, grapes and ornamental forms and figures. This painting was possibly used as a guide for factory workers or as a salesman's sheet.
Samson & Cie. was established by Edmé Samson (1810-1891) in Paris to manufacture reproductions of ceramics from museums and private collections, which it assured would be clearly marked to avoid confusion with the originals. All wares were reproduced in a glossy, hard-paste porcelain. The range of wares included copies of 18th-century porcelain from such factories as Sèvres, Chelsea, Meissen and Derby, Chinese export-wares, especially armorial wares, Delftware, Iznikware, maiolica and faience. In 1864 the founder's son moved the company to Montreal, and it remained in production until 1969.
Condition: Generally very good for a utilitarian work of art, with the usual overall toning, soiling, wear, soft creases, marginal tears, pen and ink notations. Loss in upper right tipped in with later sheet, not affecting image.
Reference:
"Edmé Samson & Cie." The Grove Dictionary of Art. New York: Macmillan. 2000. Artnet.com. http://www.artnet.com/library/07/0755/T075563.asp (10 May 2002). |
