Help with Serves (?) plate
Picked up three 11" plates (similar markings, different scenes) at an estate sale. I understand there are a lot of reproduction/fake Serves pieces out there but am hoping these are legit. There are two marks - the obvious wanna be Serves mark and then another that is covered in a gold gilt oval. Shining a bright light through the plate shows a Wilhelm Guerin mark that was used between 1891-1932 (if my research is correct). Hoping someone can tell me why the Guerin mark would be covered? And if this plate is the real McCoy! Thanks
8 comments
janetpjohn_la
·8 months agoThe maker of the blank is often covered up. The mark of the decorator is the only one that matters. If they were trying to deceive us into thinking it's Sevres, they didn't do a very good job. I didn't find this mark, but I would be asking in more specific groups or the Sevres website.
amazinggracehsts
OP8 months agoThank you!
janetpjohn_la
·8 months agoMy thought is that Sevres makes its own porcelain and wouldn't buy it from Guerin to decorate.
amazinggracehsts
OP8 months agoYou know waaaay more about this topic than I do for sure. What are your thoughts on why the Guerin mark is covered? I picked up three of these plates and they have identical markings. Thank you for your help!
jrkirk
·8 months agoGenerally, the two marks are for, 1) the actual maker of the plate, and 2) the decorator, who is often different than the manufacturer. I would recommend the book 'U.S. marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay' by Lois Lehner, for researching both marks, as that reference has tens of thousands of such marks, but doing the actual research is going to take some time. I did check under the Serves section in the book, and neither of the above marks are shown. Hope this helps.
jrkirk
·8 months agoSevres.............
amazinggracehsts
OP8 months agoSee - now I have you spelling it wrong! Thanks for the advice and for looking for the marks. Still searching...
amazinggracehsts
OP8 months agoSorry for the typo - Sevres.