Antique French Pottery

Trying to describe all of the antique pottery coming from France would be an impossible task. Undeniably the most popular forms of pottery were dinner sets and tea trays. Other forms of pottery are vases and other knick knacks that were often displayed in a parlor or in a bedroom.

Dinnerware
The china dinnerware of France is some of the most beautiful historic pottery on sale today. The china used in the 18th and 19th centuries was very delicate, so finding a complete dinner set is an amazing accomplishment. Most dinnerware in this period was based on a white background. Upon this white background different scenes and decor was painted, almost always by hand. Undeniably the most popular decoration on this pottery was floral scenes. Pansies, daisies, roses, and many other flowers were produced in a range of colors ranging from pink to orange. There is what seems to be an endless steam of other decor scenes. Nautical scenes, animals, and countless other things were displayed on dinnerware. Dinnerware of this era often included several sizes of plates, bowls, platters, and pitchers.

Tea Trays
In historic France the most popular way to get together and spend time with friends was to invite them to tea. Serving tea was seen as a social event, and your tea set, in many ways, indicated your social status. For this reason we see many variations in tea trays, from opulent ones to simplistic tea trays for one. Trays usually included cups, saucers, a teapot, and several other containers for sugar, cream, and the like. In France, many of these sets were lavishly decorated with flowers and gilt edges. In stark contrast to dinnerware, tea sets were almost completely covered with decoration, leaving almost no room for a background color.

Decorative Items
Pottery and porcelain items were often displayed in every room of a historic French home. Ceramic figures were placed on mantles and vases found special homes on end tables or near doorways. These knick knacks are generally referred to as objects d'art in the antique community. Another interesting item in this category is the mercury glass bottle. These enjoyed popularity in 19th century France. The shiny bottles ranged in size from large or small and could be displayed nearly anywhere in a home. Vases of this time period ranged in size and came in a variety of designs. Everything from plain white ceramic vases shaped like mermaids to large urns with floral gilt patterns can be found for sale throughout the world.