This Absolutely Fabulous Example of Pickard China was decorated in their factory just north of Chicago, Illinois. We would estimate this little candy dish to be made approximately 1925-1935. At this time, their porcelains were imported from all over the world and decorated by one of their many artists who were from The Art Institute of Chicago.
This Lavishly Gilded Bonbon Dish measures 8 1/4" Length by 7" Width by 2 1/2" Depth or Height and has a thick layer of 24 Kt. honey gold meticulously applied by hand. As you can see from the photo, it also has a wonderfully etched pannier or basket of flowers in its center. In addition, it has a beautiful two toned effect as to how the gold was applied, obviously a true mark of an exquisite artist.
This adorable candy dish is divided into three sections, the center being somewhat oval neighbored by two crescent shaped exterior sections crowned by a v-shaped handle.
This is an unmarked piece; however, many of the earlier pieces were not factory or artist marked. However, anyone who knows Pickard will certainly recognize this as being Pickard.
COMMENT: Older pieces like this one are very sought after by collectors. This certainly would make a classy gift for friend, especially if he or she is an antique collector.
HISTORY OF PICKARD PORCELAIN
From past research, the factory, like many American factories starting in the 1880’s, started on a small scale just north of Chicago, Illinois in a little town called Edgerton, Wisconsin about 1893 by Wilder Austin Pickard and employed their artists from The Art Institute of Chicago to decorate their imported porcelains. At this particular time they had not mastered the skill of making their own china. So their notoriety would be later discovered in the art of china decorating and not in producing the porcelain itself. However, they began porcelain production about 1937. One has to realize that this was the time of the great depression and war was just around the corner. Consequently, to be able to make more money and cut cost of importing porcelain blanks, they had to master the skills of finding the proper ingredients in order to start producing high grades of porcelain, After all, by now they had established a renowned reputation for quality decorating and we must not let standards drop. Consequently, like many other factories they mastered the skill of producing high quality porcelain which the world came to know and respect with high reverence to the point of being chosen to produce commissioned dinnerware services for U.S, embassies worldwide. When U.S. ambassadors entertain royalty and dignitaries at state dinners in London, Paris, Tokyo and other major world cities, they dine on Pickard china. As a matter of fact, some people consider this china to be the finest china made, not only in America, but the world.
CONDITION: Note that there is slight wear or rubbing on handle near the fold, a normal place, after all it has been picked up often being that it is a candy dish. Also, there is very minor rubbing on the left hand side. Other than that it is in great condition.
