Darte Frères - Plate with topographical decoration, Consulate period

Dinner plate
Painted and gilded hard porcelain
Signed in gold
Dimensions : 24 (cm.)
Paris, circa 1805

A rare soup plate with a beautiful blue and gold marli, burnished and “scratched”. The basin is finely decorated with a view of the Palais Bourbon.

This plate belongs to a popular series of aquatints produced at the end of Louis XVI's reign, which can be seen at the Musée Carnavalet Histoire de Paris.
The Darte factory
Originally three brothers, in 1795 they began trading and manufacturing porcelain and bought a factory on rue de Charonne, while at the same time opening a store in the Palais Royal. In 1804, they parted company amicably. Brothers Louis Joseph and Jean François founded a new company, retaining the name Darte Frères, and set up shop on rue de la Roquette, while Joseph Darte continued under the name “Darte Ainé à Paris” and set up shop on rue de Popincourt. The brothers prospered (from 80 to 100 workers in peacetime). An advertisement from 1809 announces that the factory bears the title “Manufacture de porcelaine de S.A.I. Madame Mère de S.M. L'Empereur et Roi”. In 1816, a second store opened at 16, rue Vienne. The factory took part in the 1819 exhibition and, as in 1806, won a silver medal. However, things got complicated in 1820, and three years later the brothers divided the company's ailing assets between themselves. In 1824, Louis Joseph joined forces with one of his sons, Auguste Remi, but the business collapsed 1 year later. Bankruptcy was declared in 1828.

Condition report: excellent