This antique faience plate from Talavera or Puente del Arzobispo is a rare survivor of mid-18th-century Spanish ceramic tradition. Handcrafted in white-glazed earthenware, the piece features the iconic “Casa China” (Chinese House) motif—an exotic architectural fantasy inspired by Asian aesthetics, rendered in deep cobalt blue. The freehand floral scrolls adorning the rim, irregular in intensity and flow, reveal the spontaneity of brushwork prior to the adoption of stencil decoration. Its proportions and balanced profile evoke the typology of platos hondos (deep dishes) of the early Bourbon period.
This plate is not only an expressive example of Talavera’s chinoiserie influence but also an artifact of cross-cultural exchange in Iberian ceramic art. It retains original kiln imperfections, visible tool marks, and glaze skips typical of pre-industrial firing methods. A historic piece, perfectly suited for collectors of early European faience.
⸻
Details:
• Origin: Spain, Talavera or Puente del Arzobispo
• Date: ca. 1730–1770
• Material: Tin-glazed white faience (majolica)
• Technique: Hand-painted in cobalt oxide under glaze
• Dimensions: Ø 22 cm (8.7 in), height 4.5 cm (1.8 in)
• Condition: Minor edge nibbles, glaze frits, and age-related craquelure. No restorations.
(The photographs form an integral part of the description.)
A well-placed antique does more than decorate a room - it gives it authorship. Against a contemporary interior, older objects introduce texture, balance and a sense of permanence that cannot be replicated by newly made pieces alone.
This is the principle behind the LÜRON selection. We look for works that carry historical character with ease, and that feel as convincing in a Paris apartment as they do in a more modern architectural setting.
