Géo Martel Desvres large handpainted Delft chinoiserie style lobed dish

Beautiful large (36,2 x 5,8 cm) handpainted lobed dish made between 1900 and 1942 by Georges Martel (Géo Martel) in Desvres, France. This type of dish is called a "plooischotel" in Dutch, which literally translates as "pleated dish". It is a classic shape of Delft style dish from the 17th century which originally was intended as a fruit bowl. Later "plooischotels" also became popular as wall decoration. Our dish is a relatively modern copy of these classic Delft dishes. The dish has nine wide lobes around a nine-fold centre and is painted onglaze in dark blue on a white tin-glaze background. The centre shows a Chinese figure sitting cross-legged among a display of exotic flowers and mimosa-style dotted blooms. The edge is decorated with elaborate Delft style ornaments. The painting is of good quality: crisp and precise. The style of painting closely follows the style of painting which was used on the original 17th century dishes.

The backside of the dish has an apocryphal "IVDuijn" mark, which was the mark used by the Delft pottery of Johannes van Duijn between 1764 and 1773. Géo Martel is known to have used this mark (amongst others) on their copies of classic Delft items. The way the mark is written corresponds with their way of painting the mark (For reference, see this excellent book on Delft style pottery made in Desvres by Géo Martel: "L'heritage de Delft à Desvres - Les faïences de Géo Martel" (2021, éditions Faton)). Also other characteristics of the dish point to it being made by Géo Martel (as they say: it is "signed all over"). Examples of genuine Johannes van Duijn marks and items can be found here: https://delftsaardewerk.nl/en/mark/ivduijn

The dish has a raised footring with two holes in it, to put a wire through for hanging it on a wall.

Condition: very good, there are no cracks, hairlines or restorations. The dish does have glaze wear on its edges, which is very likely intentionally made, to give the dish an older look. This is because antique Delft items from previous centuries will always have glaze wear on their edges, as tin-glaze is quite brittle on edges. So a dish with an intact glaze on its edges would not make a very convincing copy of a 17th century Delft dish. Upon close examination part of the glaze damages appear to be intentional glazing defects, where the glaze has been applied intentionally thin, so it would not hold. These can be recognised by their smooth edges. Another part of the glaze damages seems to be made after the firing (intentionally or not). These can be recognised by their sharp edges. All in all the dish does display beautifully and (because of the glaze wear) makes a convincing copy of much older Delftware. Aside from the edge wear, there is no notable wear to the glaze of the plate, which has no scratches and also shows no crazing (an extensive crazing is often a feature of lesser copies of antique Delftware).

A nice and very interesting copy of a classic Delft style dish. Great to hang on a wall, but it can also be placed on its own in a plate stand. The plate stand featured in the photo's will be provided with the dish.

Made by: Georges Martel

Place of manufacture: Desvres, France

Year of manufacture: between 1900 and 1942

Method of decoration: handpainted (on-glaze)

Size: diameter 36,2 cm, depth: 5,8 cm

Weight: 1,3 kg

Additional pictures of the object can be provided if required.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

About Géo Martel:

Georges Martel - Géo Martel - was a faience manufacturer who operated from 1900 to 1942 in Desvres, in the north of France. During the nineteenth century, Desvres had become the most important earthenware centre in northern France. It acquired fame through the reproduction of pieces and decorations of the famous earthenware from other regions (Delft, Moustiers, Nevers, Strasbourg or Rouen porcelain works). Georges Martel, active from circa 1900, set up one of the largest ceramic factories in the area. He invited many different artists to contribute to his production, which included faience, pottery figurines, artistic tableware and accessories. After his death in 1942, the factory was continued by Jacques Martel and later renamed to Géo. Martel Co. in 1957. Production continued under this name until 2003, when the factory closed its doors, just like most other pottery producers in Desvres. Presently, only a few small potteries still remain in Desvres that produce traditional earthenware.

More information on Delftware produced by Géo Martel in Desvres can be found in this recently published (French language) book: https://www.faton.fr/editions/livre/l-heritage-delft-a-desvres.52694.php

----------------------------------------------------------------------

This beautiful item will be carefully packed and send by tracked and insured mail.

If you buy multiple items from our shop in one purchase, we will try to combine the items into one parcel. Any excess shipping costs will be refunded.

If you are not satisfied with your purchase, you may contact us within 14 days from the delivery date to return the item. If the item is returned in its original condition, we will issue a refund for the total purchase price of the item (return shipping costs are however not covered).