Fine Antique Set of 4 French Limoges Raised Gold Enamel 10 1/4" Dinner or Cabinet Plates
This grouping of 4 spectacularly decorated French Limoges Belle Epoch cabinet or dinner plates so rich in raised gold enamel and encrusted gold trim, these have been in my china hutch for decades. Our favorite formal dinner is 6 guests, but when we expanded to 10 friends, this set got used. No, not eaten from, but to set the welcoming table - place plates. It's always a strange choice for someone to have a giant hand painted raised gold enamel monogram in the center of a plate set. It takes away the ability to serve guests on the plate - the plus is no utensil marks; the negative, only useful with a plate layered on top. Typically, I've set a formal table with these and my others at each place, and we serve first course on 8.5" plate set directly on top of these so the elaborate enamel border shows. Then, this plate and the smaller entremet plate are removed from table and replaced with a gold rimmed dinner plate, also antique French, (of greatly lesser replacement value) for main cour