I have six of these plates as given to me from my mother probably about 20 years ago. I don't know much about them other than they say Bloomingdale Bros and Limoges France on the back. I have no idea how to value them, and haven't been able to find this pattern on-line.
The green "Limoges France" mark, it's whats called a "White Ware mark". What it means is that this plate was originally made as an undecorated "blank" and sold to other potteries or studios that would then decorate it for resale.
Limoges was a major center of production of such porcelain blanks during the last quarter of the 19th century, and these blanks were sold domestically and worldwide. This particular mark is a generic one.
The country-of-origin mark, "France", indicates this plate was made post-1890 to comply with trade tariff laws such as the McKinley Act of 1890. This act required any item made for export to the USA be marked with its country of origin. The American market being the largest one in the world at the time, European manufacturers very quickly moved on board.
Bloomingdale's Inc. is an American luxury department store chain; it was founded in New York City by Joseph B. and Lyman G. Bloomingdale in 1860 (1861 in other sources).
"Not the brothers Bloomingdale - their East Side Bazaar, opened in 1872, sold a wide variety of European fashions. It was the beginning of what would become a "Department Store""
I found a site with Bloomingdale's history and old photographs: www.pdxhistory.com/
www.pdxhistory.com/
So your plates have been painted specifically for sale at this department store (1872 and later).
The price of your plates can be quite high. I couldn't find the exact same pattern, but you can compare prices with plates that also have a gold pattern.
I found Antique 22k Gold Limoges China Cabinet Plates Lot Of 6 from early 1900s, but only 4 of them are made in Limoges. The price is US $ 839 www.ebay.com/
Eleven Limoges Dinner / Cabinet Plates - Vintage 22k Gold Royal China were sold for $189, but the burgundy band of each plate has small areas of the pattern rubbed away, one of them was cracked and repaired www.chairish.com/
7 Antique Limoges Encrusted Dinner Plates with Medallion 1891-1914 are on sale for $960 www.etsy.com/
These are interesting. I wish I could see it in person. The color of the photo doesn't look right to me--so I am not sure what the pattern is.
The markings on the back lean toward it being from the late 1920s or older--because when it was merged with Federated then, is when I believe it went from being Bloomingdale Bros. to just Bloomingdale's.
My best recommendation since this is something that needs to be seen in person, is to find a trusted antique dealer or auction house and have them look at them and tell you exactly what you have and the value where you are (or in auction--real auction--NOT eBay).
While sadly most Limoges pieces have not held their value, some have, so I don't want to speculate since I can't see it in person.
Please post back what you learn! I am very curious about this piece!! Thanks!
I found Bloomingdale Bros. Royal New York Limoges France Set of 5 Dessert Plates Roses (not gold) with price $ 39.99
Antique 22K Gold Limoge Hand Painted Plate with price $ 44.2 www.ebay.com/
