“It was an age of miracles, it was an age of art, it was an age of excess, and it was an age of satire.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Found at market, this set of eight artist-signed, sumptuously hand painted, and hand gilded plates were produced by England’s famed Royal Worchester factory. Created in 1929, the very last year of the wild and carefree Roaring Twenties, these decadent works in porcelain are sure to delight!

Encircled by golden tendrils, swags, flowers, and elegant grillwork on a ground of ivory porcelain are central floral vignettes including roses, nasturtiums, forget-me-nots, dahlias, passion flowers, and others. Each color was applied by hand, and each color usually required its own firing before the next could be applied. Any color or firing could go wrong, making pieces like these very labor intensive, and consequently precious. As a result, they were only available through retailers of the caliber of Tiffany & Co, Prouds Ltd., and the Flavelle Brothers of Sydney, Australia.

The centers of six of the plates are signed by Harry and Walter Austin. Born at the end of the 19th Century, the brothers began working in the Royal Worchester factory around 1910. Harry, in particular, trained as an artist from a very early age winning many awards for work produced during his student years. The pair became artists covering a wide range of subject matter, and are among a short list of the best known of the factory’s painters. (The remaining two plates are signed “S. Stanley,”  but it will be up to their next owners to sleuth out that artist’s story!)

After the outbreak of the Second World War one-third of Royal Worchester’s factory would be used by the Ministry of Aircraft for the purpose of producing shock-resistent porcelain insulators for radio and radar equipment. At the conclusion of the war certain elegantly extravagant wares would never be produced again because a world that once voraciously demanded them had been irrevocably changed. These  pieces of artwork for your table or display cabinet are remarkable survivors from that iconic period when it seemed the glamorous party would never end.

Strictly one-of-a-kind and subject to prior sale. In very good vintage condition. Circa 1929. 10.5" in diameter. Handwash only.

Learn More About Royal Worchester

Royal Worcester, one of England's oldest porcelain manufacturers, was founded in 1751 by Dr. John Wall and William Davis. Initially named the Worcester Tonquin Manufactory, the company aimed to rival the high-quality Chinese porcelain popular in Europe. In 1788, they received a royal warrant from King George III, allowing them to use "Royal" in their name, solidifying their reputation.

Throughout the 19th century, Royal Worcester innovated with techniques like transfer printing and expanded their product range, influenced by artistic movements such as Rococo and Art Nouveau. In 1976, they merged with Spode to form Royal Worcester Spode, navigating financial challenges while maintaining their commitment to quality. Today, Royal Worcester is celebrated for its rich heritage and timeless designs, with their porcelain pieces remaining highly collectible and treasured worldwide.