Limoges Castel Artist-Signed Hand-Painted Floral Trinket Tray – c.1970

Here’s the thing about this tray: it’s signed. Right there in the lower left of the bouquet, you can see the artist’s signature — someone who sat down, picked up a brush and painted this specific arrangement of flowers on this specific piece of Limoges Castel porcelain. Fabriquée et Décorée à Limoges, as the backstamp proudly confirms. Made and decorated in Limoges, France. Because they really mean it.

The bouquet is a joyful, exuberant mix: a big blowsy pink rose takes centre stage, flanked by a vivid orange gerbera, purple asters, delicate pink blossoms, blue forget-me-nots and orange-red buds on trailing stems — all painted freehand on a soft warm-white ground with a simple, elegant raised rim. No gilding, no fuss. The flowers are the star, and they know it.

At 12.5 cm across and a solid 115 grams, this is the largest and most generously proportioned tray in this series. It’s a proper display piece — big enough to hold a handful of trinkets, beautiful enough to leave completely empty.

• Limoges Castel, France, c.1970
• Fabriquée et Décorée à Limoges — made and decorated in Limoges
• Hand-painted, artist-signed floral bouquet
• Pink rose, orange gerbera, purple asters, blue forget-me-nots, pink blossoms
• Soft warm-white ground with raised rim
• Diameter: 12.5 cm
• Weight: 115 grams
• Condition: excellent vintage condition

WARNING: This tray is larger than it looks in photos and more charming than it has any right to be for the price. Maison de L’oro accepts no responsibility for any impulse rearranging of your entire shelf to accommodate it.