GSH Etruscan Majolica Bread Plate Hand Painted Begonia Leaf Pink Green 1880-1892
Exquisite Decorative Hand Painted Decorative OVAL BREAD PLATE, EMBOSSED & SCALLOPED Vivid MAJOLICA Begonia Leaf in Green, Pink, Yellow w/Brown Handle, Hand Painted marked & Produced circa 1880-11892, Etruscan Majolica in a circle for GSH (Griffen, Smith & Hill Phoenixville PA, USA)
DESCRIPTION: This features a beautiful vivid display of a hand painted green, pink and yellow begonia leaf with the brown stem handle. The bottom is molded and painted in the mottled bluish green and grey coloring. The begonia leaf is embossed with ridges and incised veining. The leaf is decorated with yellow and pink decorative bands. See the photos as this has so much exquisite detail.
CONDITION: The condition of this decorative bread plate is superb. We can find no defects and only the most minor of damage. See photo #13 for 2 small glaze flakes on the back of one point. See photo #8 for the glaze hairline that does not go through to the back. There is no wear to the paint. There are no chips, nicks, cracks, scratches or other hairlines. Please refer to the photos to see how classically beautiful this is.
DIMENSIONS: The whimsical bread plate is an oval of 12 3/8" by 9 1/4" with a height of 1 7/8".
HISTORY/MARKS: The Phoenix Pottery, Kaolin, and Fire Brick Company was started in 1867 by the same men who owned the Phoenix Iron Works. Deposits of kaolin (a fine usually white high-quality clay) were discovered at Third and Main Streets, along the road to Valley Forge, and from a pit along Pickering Creek. This clay was of superior quality, almost pure, making possible fine pottery. David Smith, a potter from England, later joined the firm adding his talents to that of John Griffen (of the Phoenix Iron Works) and David and Samuel Reeves. Later Griffen, seeking a business for his son, Harry, bought shares in the business. William Hill was a boss potter, who may have also owned some shares. By 1882, the firm was known as Griffen, Smith, and Hill (GS & H), and it began manufacturing Etruscan Majolica. In ancient times the Etruscans, or residents of the region around Rome, Italy, had excelled in making this form of pottery–all made by hand. GS & H added the word “Etruscan” to their logo. As an adjective, the word “Etruscan” means art while as a noun it means an inhabitant of ancient Etruria. In 1890, there was a fire at the plant. Four months later it reopened as the Griffen Pottery Company and in 1894 became the Phoenix Pottery. William Hill left the firm in the early 1880s and Mr. Smith sold out in 1889 due to poor health. In 1894, at the World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans, two vases and a jug submitted by GS & H won the Gold Metal. Nine different owners subsequently could not make a profit, so the firm closed in 1903 and dismantled the kilns.
Please view all pictures carefully as they are part of the description. The stand was used as a photo prop and is not part of this listing.
We are fast and safe shippers offering FREE USPS PRIORITY MAIL SHIPPING WITHIN THE USA on this piece with insurance and tracking included.
For our INTERNATIONAL buyers, we offer buyer paid calculated rate USPS International shipping with insurance provided by the seller. See additional international policies below.
This is ready to use or display with pride in your home.
For USA shipping addresses, tracking and insurance are provided by the seller and we will ship by free Priority Mail for faster receipt. For International shipping addresses, insurance is provided (if possible to purchase) by the seller and the buyer pays for whichever shipping service is chosen plus any import duties, taxes, and charges. Thanks for your purchase!
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