THIS IS A SPEACTACULAR SET OF 12 SPODE COPELANDS CHINA DINNER PLATES - DATED 1899. ADORNED WITH ONE OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS SPODE PATTERNS: 1/9608. IN ADDITION TO THE SPLENDOR OF THE PATTERN, EACH PLATE HAS A BEAUTIFUL ENAMELED MULTI- COLORED BEE WITH A MOTIVATIONAL HERALDIC MOTTO UNDERNEATH: "FAIS CE QUE DOIS ADVIENNE QUE POURRA" TRANSLATED: "DO WHAT MUST, COME WHAT MAY", OR DO WHAT YOU MUST, NOT MATTER THE CONSEQUENCES! THERE IS A MONOGRAM - UNDOUTEDLY OF A FRENCH ARISTOCRAT FOR WHOM THESE PLATES WERE CUSTOMIZED.
A BEE WAS HISTORICALLY A SYMBOL CHOSEN BY NAPOLEON, SYMBOLIZING BOTH HARD WORK AND LONGEVITY. CAME FROM 2 LUXURIOUS RETAILERS: OSLER DESIGNERS LONDON & DAVIS GOLLAMORE & CO NEW YORK. ADDITIONALLY, THESE GORGEOUS PLATES HAVE GREAT PROVENANCE. THEY CAME FROM AN ESTATE OF MASON ADAMS - A RENOWN AMERICAN ACTOR. IN GREAT CONDITION WITH SOME MINOR WEAR TO GOLD ON THE RIM.
THIS SET IS TRULY MAGNIFICENT - A RARE TREASURE ESPECIALLY AS A FULL SET OF 12.