Circa 1900. Spain.

Ivory-colored ground, painted in cobalt blue and copper-colored lustre (metal lustrum). Ø 46.5 cm.

Plate decorated in the style of Valencian late Gothic/Renaissance majolica with a high rim and wide rim. Central, crowned minuscule "b" in blue, Gothic script, flanked by a man and a woman, surrounded by cartouches and stylized floral decoration. Concentric circles on the underside. Bumped on the edge and underside.

The ceramic manufactory La Ceramo was founded in 1885 by the cabinetmaker and restorer José Ros Surió and the merchant Julián Urgell in València. Production initially focused on the manufacture of chandelier tableware, a trend at the end of the 19th century in which copies of Spanish-Muslim ceramics were produced using original, handcrafted methods and in which there was an obsession with finding the chandelier recipe of the ancient Moorish potters. Family legend has it that José found a parchment with the old formula for metallic luster in a desk he had restored. However, it is documented that he traveled all over Europe to find original models of medieval lustre ceramics in various museums and established relationships with private collectors in order to reproduce the models from the 14th to 18th centuries as faithfully as possible. His lustre ceramics quickly became popular with wealthy collectors and in European ruling houses. The specialization and excellent execution of his pieces brought La Ceramo several awards, including the gold medal at the National Exhibition of Art Industries in 1892. The plate offered here was probably acquired by Olga and Albrecht von der Gabelentz in 1913 during a voyage on the Mediterranean in Valencia.

Literature : Soler Ferrer, María Paz / Pérez Camps, Josep: Historia de la cerámica valencia IV. Vincent García Editores S.A. 1987, Pepa Pascual: "La Ceramo, un ejemplo de patrimonio industrial a recuperar" on cadenaser.com/tag/ceramica/a/ from 01.06.2023.

Provenance : From Thuringian aristocratic property. Restitution property with inventory number of the Altenburg Residential Palace, formerly part of the von der Gabelentz family collection at Poschwitz Castle.