A fine antique porcelain plate sold by Escalier de Cristal Paris between 1872 and 1885.

Escalier de Cristal were a high class Parisian retailer in business between 1802-1923. 

This plate with its striking and rather brutal depiction of a bird in flight preying on a flying insect is in the style of Felix Bracquemond.

Bracquemond started these drawings inspired by Japanese Manga after 1860 when he first encountered prints on paper used to wrap consignements of Japanese export ceramics.  

He was so taken with the style of the black lines, energetic and dynamic detailed drawing and evocative colour washes, that he started to create prints of natural subject matter using this style.

Bracquemond was an extremely gifted print maker and he was commissioned to produce a set of creamware plates with this style of design for  Eugène Rousseau.

Escalier de Cristal had a reputation of the highest quality and would head hunt the best designers of the day and commission from them exclusive designs, the list of associated artists is an impressive one.

Over 48 different patterns by Bracquemond were hand-painted by French manufactory "Choisy Le Roi" exclusively for the Escalier de Cristal.

I have been unable to establish whether this design is one of those designs, but it is an Escalier de Cristal plate and certainly in the style of Bracquemond, so why would it be by a lesser artist?

The vivacity, confidence and subject matter are so characteristic of Braquemond that I think attribution to Bracquemond is almost certain.

A very interesting, unusual and audacious design for 1878 I think, and a fine porcelain plate.


Marks:
Escalier de Cristal Paris 

Size:
23.5 cm diameter

Weight:
459 g

Age:
140 years

Condition:
Good.  Some scratches to the enamel, and the back stamp is a little distorted.  No cracks or chips.  Good antique condition

Maker:
Probably painted by Choisy Le Roi for Escalier de Cristal Paris