When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is stunning antique porcelain serving bowl decorated with a pheasant couple, and stunning orange luster. The porcelain is impressed with pairs of swirls and a design on the scalloped edge. The stunning part is definitely the orange luster on the upper edge that fades as it goes towards the birds. The birds are standing on a little cliff with greenery and flowers. Very realistic and artistically painted, although this looks not hand painted but applied by transfer.
I did a little light reading in my book, “19th Century Lustreware”, and learned a bit about the lustering process. It is formed from metal, dissolved in acid, then painted on, or the item is dipped in it, which leaves a thin film on top of the glaze. It is then fired in the kiln which reduces the luster solution to its original metallic form, leaving it shimmering and glistening, which this bowl really does! The metal used could be gold and platinum. Apparently silver would tarnish and copper was dull. No idea what the luster on this bowl is, but it is very shiny and reflective, which you can see in the pictures and video.
The bowl is about 2 & 1/2 inches tall, about 9 & 1/4 inches in diameter, and weighs, 1 pound 2 ounces. The RCW backstamp which is reflective itself and fairly light colored, is a triangle around a small flower with the letters R C and W one on each side of the triangle, is from the porcelain company named Retsch & Co. of Wunsiedel (a city and district in Northeast Bavaria). They used this backstamp on their products immediately after the end of World War I.
The lustreware bowl is in excellent antique shape, with no chips, cracks, or crazing. I don’t see much wear to the pheasant birds, but there is a bit of wear to the orange luster especially where the raised design on the porcelain was rubbed. It isn’t that noticeable partly because the luster itself is so shiny.
Please zoom in on the pictures and see the 360 degree video for a closer look.
I pack with lots of bubble wrap for safe shipping and ship out quickly, sometimes same day, always by next business day, and sometime on Saturday if I can get to the post office before it closes at noon.
Any questions, please ask because I want you to be happy with this item if you decide to purchase it.
Thanks for looking!
