Three Meissen porcelain plates showing Old Master paintings

Three Meissen porcelain plates showing Old Master paintings
German, c. 1880
Height 3.5cm, diameter 24cm
 
Created by the renowned German porcelain manufactory Meissen in the late 19th century, this set of porcelain plates combines the legacy of Old Master painting with refined gilt detailing.
 
Each of the three plates features a central plaque of a different Old Master painting. The first one shows a portrait after Rembrandt of his wife Saskia, who was his frequent model. The second depicts a tinker examining a pot in front of an inn, after the Dutch genre painter Frans van Mieris the Elder. The final plaque is after Caravaggio, and depicts three men playing cards. The name of each artist is inscribed in black calligraphy under the roundel.
 
Each painting is surrounded by concentric circles of decoration, with gilt adorning both the rim and the geometric pierced border. A further gilt circle is encircled by pastel pink ribbon, creating an almost three-dimensional effect not normally seen on objects of this type.
 
Cancelled Meissen blue sword marks can be found underneath the plates.
 
These unique collector’s items are filled with intricate details, showing the beauty of Meissen porcelain and the skill of the manufactory’s makers.
 
Artist/Maker: Meissen