Hi

Here are a beautiful pair of porcelain plates each having an ornate gilt cartouche with beautiful maiden scenes within and each scene having the Kaufmann mark, there is a further mark above that, which may be a signature, though it may be just part of the decor which resembles a signature?

These have been shown to a dealer who said that they date to late 19th century to 1900. He said they are a print which have then been hand decorated.

Each plate is 7 and 1/4" across. There are no chips or cracks or restoration to this lovely item that I can find, (except the wear to the gilt and the scratch/scuff across the one figures brown skirt mentioned above).

I bought these to go in my eclectic cabinet quite a few years ago from an antique market, but I'm gradually filling it with more art nouveau glass now so this has to go. I bought them because they are very pretty and ornate, I believe that the behive mark on the back is a Royal Vienna mark but they may just be Ackermann & Fritze which would then date them from 1908 as that's when Ackermann & Fritze started producing hard paste porcelain according to a book I was shown, which if these are from that company instead of Royal Vienna, these must then be (sorry not checked the material they are made of)? and was told they were antique, 19th century by the stall holder that I purchased them from, but apart from that and what I can see, I know little about them, though any info would be greatfully received please? I have tried to be systematic with the photos so that the front of the plate is followed by the back of each plate in order.

I'm not an expert in these, I simply describe what I see to the best of my knowledge, and have got professional opinion to fill in the gaps so please feel free to ask for any further info or photos.

Cash on collection from Stafford is fine, but I'm also happy to post using a premium signed for service.

Thanks for looking :)