Majolica/Barbotine Strawberry Plate, from France

This antique 8 ½" plate from France is decorated in the style known as majolica or barbotine, interchangeable terms which mean the piece was decorated with slip. The wet clay is piped onto the surface to be decorated so that it forms a raised design.

This piece's only marks are two number 13s on the underside. One is stamped and the other is written in glaze. I've seen similar, almost identical pieces attributed to Portieux Vallerysthal (probably more well known for their glassmaking) as well as Sarreguemines. This may be from neither since it's impossible to ascertain without more information.

*****Condition:

There are areas on the surface design, which have wear owing to use. These can be seen as bisque-colored spots where the glaze has worn off. This is more likely to happen with a raised design.

There is a chip to a leaf as seen in photos nine and ten with an arrow pointing to the chip.

There are shiny bumps on the surface of the plate. These occurred during the second glaze firing of the plate. The mark was an imperfection on the surface of the porcelain before the first bisque firing, and once it was glazed and fired, the marks showed up as shiny bumps.

There is marked crazing on the surface design as well as on the underside. There is a small gouge on the underside on the foot (ring). It occurred before the first bisque firing, and since it wasn't repaired before this first firing, it remained and is shiny owing to the glaze coating the entire area.

Please examine the photos carefully and do let me know if you need more as I'll be happy to oblige.

Thank you for looking.