Plate with Doves from Galla Placida

#175, Photographed by Mary Elizabeth Kulesa, 2024: Upper Surface
#175, Photographed by Mary Elizabeth Kulesa, 2024

Upper Surface

Name/Title

Plate with Doves from Galla Placida

Entry/Object ID

175

Acquisition

Source (if not Accessioned)

Mrs. George W. Childs, Philadelphia

Notes

Date: 1911 Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. George W. Childs Means of Accession: gift Source: Collection Count Diego Bouglie of Naples; Said to have belonged to Queen Carolina of Naples and Sicily, sister of Marie Antoinette

Made/Created

Artist

Royal Vienna Porcelain

Date made

1796 - 1798

Place

City

Vienna

Country

Austria

Continent

Europe

Dimensions

Height

1-1/4 in

Diameter

9-1/2 in

Height

3.17 cm

Diameter

24.13 cm

Material

Hard paste porcelain

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Curator Pick of the Month

Label

This Royal Vienna Porcelain Plate, rumored to have belonged to Queen Carolina of Naples and Sicily, the sister of Marie Antoinette, was made by the Imperial and Royal Porcelain Manufactory of Vienna. The manufactory produced porcelain from 1744-1864 under the initial ownership of Empress Maria Theresa. Each authentic piece of Royal Vienna Porcelain contains a blue – striped shield from the coat of arms of the Duke of Austria, known as the beehive mark, to mark its authenticity. From 1780-1830 the manufactory issued porcelain in a Classical style, referring to art of antiquity, and used gold relief as decoration, as exhibited by The Drexel Collection’s example. Come visit this gorgeous piece in Drexel’s Main Building on the third floor!

Label Type

Exhibition Label

Label

The doves in the center of this plate were inspired by a mosaic in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the daughter of Roman Emperor Theodosius I, in Ravenna, Italy. The imagery of the doves can be found on many pieces from the Vienna Porcelain Factory, including vases, coffee cups, and pitchers.