French antique 12 place ironstone dinner service, neoclassical birds flowers blue & white transferware, 'Marie Antoinette' c1890 Gien France

An elegant 29 piece French antique dinner service with place settings for up to 12 people (12 dinner plates, 6 soup, 6 sides), plus a set of matching serving dishes. From renowned Faiencerie de Gien, France in the sought-after pattern 'Marie Antoinette' featuring birds, flowers and garlands in an Empire style design on subtly fluted, molded, and scalloped forms. This service has a makers mark for Gien which dates its production from 1886. The service remains in lovely antique condition with a few marks of time, but still very usable and displays beautifully.

This rare service is made in high quality earthenware (ironstone) with an ivory patination on the white paste beautifully complementing the soft grey blue transferware. Alongside the beautiful designs, a subtle fluted rim adds an extra element of interest to the form of the plates. A quintessentially French service, in a rare intricate neoclassical design.

Featuring a highly symbolic formal design, with intricately rendered scrolls, wreaths and floral sprays, this pattern is focused on beautifully drawn doves - a small flock flies in the central bowl, while a pair nest together at the top in an ornate jardinière. With its classical design and strong symbolism of romantic love, this piece is perfect for wedding china or as a romantic gift.

The set includes: 12 Dinner plates, 6 soup plates, 6 side plates along with 1 footed compotier / cake stand, 2 small oval 'ravier' serving dishes, 1 large round deep serving dish, 1 soupiere / tureen with lid.

CONDITION -
Overall, this set remains in very good condition with a gentle patina of age. Light crazing to some pieces, light scratches, a few small areas of discoloration, etc. Also, it is manufactured using more 'handmade' processes than today, and you may see areas of glaze smudging, glaze spots, glaze skips, bubbles under the glaze as is normal for transferware and part of the vintage charm of the items. With the exception of a few minor flaws detailed below the set is in very good condition and remarkably well preserved for its age of 120+ years - the service remains fully usable and will display well for years to come.

DETAILED CONDITION REPORT -
x12 Dinner plates (23.7 cm diameter height 2.5 cm) 8 plates in 'excellent' condition, 4 plates in 'very good' condition each with a very small and shallow scrape / chip (all smaller than a grain rice) to the rim undersides, none visible on the face.
x6 soup plates (23.7cm diameter height 2.5 cm). All in excellent condition, 3 with minor manufacturing faults as follows: one piece with an over-glazed chip smaller than a grain of rice on the outer rim; one piece with a linear glaze inclusion approx 1.5cm in length to the outer rim; one plate with a linear glaze skip to its foot rim of about 4cm in length.
x6 side plates (21.5cm diameter height 1.75 cm). 4 pieces in excellent condition, two two of which show small manufacturing faults of an over-glazed chip (one to the face at the rim, one to the underside of the rim). 2 pieces in 'good' condition, each with a chip about the size of an apple seed to the rim underside, not visible from the face.
x1 footed compotier - (diameter 23.8cm x 5cm high) good condition, 2cm partially over glazed chips to the foot at the base.
x2 oval ravier serving dishes - (24cm long x 13cm wide x 3.7cm) high. Excellent condition, each has a manufacturing fault of a 2cm glaze skip to the edge of its foot/base.
x1 large round deep serving dish - (31.7 diameter x 2.5cm high) Good condition, a 1cm over-glazed chip to the rim otherwise very light crazing, small spots of discoloration and some tiny 'fleabites' to the rim.
x1 soupiere / tureen with lid (Diameter 24cm x H 8cm, H14cm with lid W 30cm with handles) Good condition, a 1cm chip to the rim of the bowl (difficult to see with lid in place), a little scuffing to the base.

Feel free to ask any questions or to request more photos :) Overall this set remains in very good condition and will be able to serve for many years to come.

An exquisite set to admire and use for a lifetime - and beautiful way to add some authentic French antique charm to your life!

Please note that the preparation time for this item will be up to 10 working days to ensure the best possible packaging and shipping solution for you. I will be using all my skills as a former gallery owner to ensure that this treasure makes its way safely to your home. Please contact me if you require the shipment to be expedited for any reason and I will do my best to accommodate your needs.
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Notes on shipping -

I always shop around to ensure the best possible packaging and shipping solution for you. Rest assured I will be using all my skills as a former art gallery owner to ensure that this treasure makes its way safely to your home. I have shipped literally hundreds of fragile items to every continent over the past 20 years. Your shipment will be fully insured against loss and damage in transit so you can buy with confidence.

I will always refund shipping overages. Etsy shipping charges are not always accurate to every destination - please enquire if you would like an exact quote for fully-insured shipping to your destination.

I am very happy to combine shipping so please get in touch if you like multiple items in my store.

Shipping within France via Mondial Relay to the Relay point of your choosing. Door to door shipping, is an extra paid service on this item which can be selected at checkout.