Help Identifying Great Grandmothers Fine China Plate

[gregauc]

I have an antique plate from my Great Grandmother.  It was given to me as a child and held onto by my parents and just now is the first time I've actually taken a look at it.  It's absolutely beautiful and the artwork is incredible.  The colors are bright and it looks like it was done yesterday, although I'm sure its quite old.

The front of the plate is a portrait of Napoleon.  It reads "Bonabarte 1769-1827"  There are some markings on the back and a date of '97 which has to be 1887.  I'll attach pictures.

If anyone has any information on this plate or how I can go about finding out more I would be so grateful.

[gregauc]

Hey people sorry for the double post! I had originally attached 5 photos but the file sizes were too big and I somehow must have ended up posting twice.

Here is an album of the photos I was originally trying to attach.  http://imgur.com/a/BBFb5

[mart]

Yes the pics are too big !! If you reduce the size to about 2000kb they will load easier !! I will try the link !!

[mart]

Couldn`t see any pics on that link !!  Just post a good clear pic of the mark on back here !! The other pic is OK !!

[gregauc]

Hey mart

I'm not sure why the album isn't showing up, here's a different link: http://imgur.com/a/BBFb5/all

I attached a picture of the back with the markings, I wasn't sure how to resize and apologize for the load time!   Trying to figure out how to resize right now and will re attach if I do.

[mart]

Where is the 97 ?? Pretty sure this a Japanese reproduction !!

[gregauc]

Picture of the '97!

Thanks for taking a look!

[mart]

The number 7 is not written in the European style !! I enlarged the pic to see the detail and it is not very well done !!  Let some of the others look at it but I think its a Japanese repro !!

[gregauc]

Thanks again for your input mart I'll research the typical European style of the time period!  I appreciate your opinion and it's possible it is a very old reproduction.  It was not made in 1997 though it has been in my mothers possession since 1988, the year I was born.

The back of the plate has pits and discoloration which doesn't seem like something a high quality plate would have, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Attaching a pic of the back of the plate in full.

[mart]

You are correct, they have been making repro`s since the 1800`s !! Perhaps some of our members will help that will be able to read the mark !!  Japanese is not my strong point !!

[KC]

Did anyone else notice that it has written "Bonabarte 1769 - 1821".  Whereas the correct spelling of the name is Bonaparte (with a p not a b) if for Napoleon Bonaparte and his DOB/DOD are 1769 - 1821.  

The colors are beautiful and love the design of the plate.  Still a nice family keepsake!  

[Ipcress]

Some of the stem from the P has been rubbed off. Look a cm below the " b " and you'll see it. Definitely written as Bonaparte

Faience. Images aren't very clear for the marks but the base centre appears to have rubbed or wiped intentionally ?

[mart]

And your opinions ??

[gregauc]

I've done some small research on different 7's from the time period and have come up with tons of different styles from tons of different regions, some that look similar and some that don't.  

I actually believe it does read "Bonabarte" with a "b."  That mark about a cm below the "b" seems to be an imperfection.  If you zoom in on the cursive it appears to be one continuous line.

If it is a reproduction I'm not disappointed as it's been in my family for a very long time and the only thing I have from my Great Grandmother.  It's value isn't important I would just love to learn more about it.. unless it would pay off my student loans, that would be something to consider of course!  

Thanks again for this discussion and all of your input!!

[Ipcress]

And your opinions ??

Looks a bit odd