Antique French Sarreguemines pottery majolica plate in the well known strawberry and flower pattern, and in a sought after turquoise blue color. The glaze is shiny, colors are vibrant and the naturalistic motif is quite charming. The raised relief comprises of delicious red strawberries and pale blossoms nestled among green foliage and sinuous curling tendrils, on a decorative lattice border surrounded with a wood vine rim. Further enhanced with raised decoration along the center well, featuring a border of stylized flower petals trimmed with a band of laurel leaves. At the very center is a little rosette medallion surrounded by intricate tracery with a beaded border enhanced in a charming orange color. All on a gorgeous blue ground. A beautiful majolica plate by the well known Sarreguemines faience factory. Stamped en verso Sarreguemines and Majolica. Impressed with the number 3. Dating to circa 1865-1880. Measures 8 1/4" diameter. In overall good antique condition with general wear commensurate with age and use. There are some chips to the very edge and a small nick in the center well as shown.
The Sarreguemines pottery was established about 1784 by brothers Nicholas-Henri and Paul-Augustin Jacobi and partner Joseph Fabry. The enterprise remained unsuccessful until 1800 when Paul Utzschneider assumed management. Thereafter, the business expanded and prospered. The Sarreguemines factory produced most of the original tiles used during the construction of the Paris metro. Majolica was added to its production in the 1860s. At the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War in 1874, Sarreguemines became German territory. In order to maintain the firm’s French nationality, two additional facilities were constructed in Digoin and Vitry-le-François.