Roses and Greek Key | |
This is an exotic squarish plate, about 10 1/4 inches from tip to tip. There are perhaps four or five known in the pattern. The pattern has four groups of heavily sculpted roses covering the outer portions of the front. The center has bands with the greek key design interspersed with bands of small flowers. These bands are repeated on the back. The maker is unknown. The one on the left is marigold and is in a private collection. The example on the right has a smokey amberish iridescence and sold at a 2003 auction for $17,500. It sold again in 2009 for $21,000.
In April, 2017, another example of this pattern sold on eBay for $8,100. The seller didn't know anything about the piece until another eBayer told him. He didn't report the color, but from the photos, it appeared like that shown on the photo on the right, above. My thanks to Annette Trnka for bringing it to my attention. I received a subsequent note from the buyer of this most recent piece. He says he would call it smoke, darker in the middle of the bowl, lighter toward the edges. |
In 2018, the plate at the left sold at live auction for a reported $13,500. It appears to be a sort of white. Photo courtesy of Mike Clum.
This plate was purchased by Cristina Katsikas. She has written quite an extemsive article about the pattern and the known examples. You may read it here.
Updated 10/9/2019 |