Darte Freres Factory (French, 1795-1828), 1804-1809, with later mid-20th century Italian pieces. An assembled thirty-five piece partial porcelain Empire-style dessert service, having a parcel gilt orange-ground lip with gilt classical motifs including anthemions, each bearing a roundel with the monogram "JM" for the King of Naples, Joachim Murat, comprising: twenty-one plates (dia. 9.375"), eight pots de cremes with covers (h. 3.5"), pair of sauce tureens (h. 9", w. 8.5", d. 5.5"), pair of shell-form dishes, (h. 2", w. 9.375", d. 8.375"), one low bowl (h. 1.75", dia. 9.25") and one footed bowl (h. 5.375", dia. 9.5"). The plates, shell dishes, and low bowl with stenciled iron-red "Darte Freres A Paris" marks, the sauce tureens with stenciled iron-red "Darte Freres A Paris" marks with one having an additional "Made In Italy" paper label, the footed bowl with "Made In Italy" paper label but otherwise unmarked, the pots de cremes unmarked, and three pots de cremes lids with "Made In Italy" paper labels but otherwise unmarked. Note: Joachim Murat (1767-1815), was a French military commander who served under Napoleon, eventually becoming a Marshall of the Empire. Napoleon's sister Caroline would marry Murat in 1800, and in 1808 he would be named King of Naples, reigning until 1815. Examples of pieces of this service can be found in the Philip Trammell Schutze collection at the Swan House, Atlanta History Center, Atlanta, GA. and be seen in "Philip Trammell Shutze: Atlanta Classicist, Connoisseur, and Collector", Rebecca B. More, The Atlanta History Center, 2005. Provenance: The Private Collection of Ms. Elizabeth Lyon Kite, Atlanta, Georgia.
Condition
Various: One plate with small restored chip to rim, possible area of restoration to lip and visible stable crack to the back; one plate with restoration to the rim; one plate with possible restorations to rim; five plates with stable non-distracting cracks/crazing to the wells; one sauce tureen with losses to griffin finials; one shell dish with stable crack; one shell dish restorations and overpaint; low/soup bowl with restorations and overpaint; one pots de creme cup and two lids chipped; all plates with varying degrees of utensil marks; all with varying degrees of gilt loss; firing and glaze imperfections; would benefit from cleaning.