A striking pair of antique majolica relief wall plates, each moulded with an Alpine hunting scene featuring three ibex or mountain goats among rocky ground beneath a climbing hunter, all enclosed within a richly ornamented border of scrolling foliage and opposing birds.
The plates are executed in a bold two-colour scheme, with the central relief in deep cobalt blue and the outer border in an olive-green glaze of distinctly late 19th to early 20th century character. The modelling is crisp and decorative, and the subject matter is unusual, giving the pair strong display appeal both as wall pieces and cabinet ceramics.
Each plate is impressed 229 to the reverse and bears a small clover/quatrefoil-shaped device. Despite comparison with English and Continental majolica examples, the exact factory has not been firmly identified, and they are therefore catalogued conservatively as antique majolica plates of unidentified maker. The Alpine subject suggests either an English decorative interpretation of Continental hunting imagery or a Continental origin itself.
Sold as a pair.
Condition Good decorative antique condition overall. One plate has a chip to the reverse rim. Both plates have tiny glaze nicks/minuscule frits, including very small glaze losses to the blue relief area, together with light general age-related wear and minor manufacturing irregularities. The small contact points to the reverse rims appear to be original firing/kiln support marks rather than later damage.
Details Antique majolica relief wall plates Maker unidentified Pattern number: 229 Probably late 19th to early 20th century Glazed earthenware / majolica-type body Sold as a pair
Measurements & Weight Each plate: approx. 23 cm diameter Depth: approx. 1.6 cm Weight: approx. 387 g each
Collector Appeal An unusual and highly decorative pair of majolica wall plates with strong colour contrast, lively relief modelling, and a distinctive Alpine ibex hunt subject. They display particularly well as a pair and would suit collectors of majolica, art pottery, hunting decor, or late Victorian / Edwardian decorative ceramics.
Condition note Please study photographs carefully, as these form part of the description. One plate has a chip to the reverse rim; both have minor glaze nicks and light wear consistent with age. The small contact marks to the reverse appear to be original firing marks from manufacture.