Rare Antique Moulin des Loups Hamage Small Platter (1900s, France)

Produced at the turn of the XIX century in France, in the Saint-Amand-les-Eaux region, where since 1705 there have been many earthenware factories, including one located on a path leading to a mill - Moulin des Loups - where this dainty platter has been crafted.

With so many factories around, we’ll only look at the one that produced this piece and so in 1818 Maximilien Joseph de Bettignies, a ceramist from Doornik - a Belgian city near the French border - takes over one of those small factories from Saint Amand and starts making porcelain objects with Doornik specific decorations like laurels, cornflowers or acorns, on top of the tin-glazed earthenware pieces (vases, statues, busts etc.) adorned mainly with blue decorations.

De Bettignies did so well that he starts building a larger factory in the hamlet of Du Moulin de Loups in Saint Amand, specialising in the production of porcelain tendre aka artificial porcelain. By 1880 the company is taken over by Gustave Dubois and Leander Bloquiaux - producers of tin-glazed earthenware in the style of Luneville and Saint Amand. Fast forward to after the end of WWI, the company and the factory is amongst the few surviving ones, but by 1950s the factory is forever closed.

With a curled shape and an embossed linear pattern on the rim, almost looking like what would Art Deco will soon after this piece was produced would look like, differently sized wildflowers and a beautifully hand painted burgundy red flowing line on the margin, this piece “screams" French countryside.

Besides its rarity, this is a one a kind piece to have in your dinnerware collection, and that sort of memorabilia to pass along through degenerations.

Product specifications

Country of manufacture — France

Condition —Excellent — This vintage/antique piece is in good condition. It shows traces of use, minor scratches according to age.

Restoration and Damage Details — Patina consistent with age and use.

Material — Ceramic

Size — Ø 30 cm