{HISTORY}

It may seem like this portrait of a beautiful Bohemian woman with her dark curls and bright red-orange shawl was made for a plate with equally beautiful details, but there's more story to this antique than just what meets the eye.

Made in East Liverpool, Ohio by The Colonial Co between 1903-1922, this 9.5" -inch plate features a female face that has adorned dishes and decorative ware the world over for more than a century. Most likely, an interpretation of a portrait painting of an unknown woman by Austrian artist Moritz Stifter (1857-1905), this beautiful lady has appeared on everything from dishware to advertising tins to wall art.

Entitled Portrait of a Young Woman in Pink Drape (see photo of painting included here), Moritz's painting features an almost exact replica of the woman featured on the plate minus a few color variations in her clothing. Moritz was known for painting beautiful women with alluring glances and come-hither poses. But while there has never been a specific name to attach to this face, we found one postcard that suggested she might have been a theater actress.

We have another theory to add too, Given that there are so many similar variations of a this woman floating around the internet, with the same or almost-the-same physical charcateristics (long, dark flowing locks, flowers in her hair, a white blouse) we suspect that the woman Moritz initially painted was a model of sorts, a figure of the feminine ideal in regards to seductive features when it came to women of the 19th and 20th centuries. 

Whatever her story might be, it's fun to imagine all the possibilities. Was she the love of Moritz's life? An Austrian siren? A talented actress? Or simply a commission that the artist received to keep his talent afloat?

There are so many stories to ponder.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Includes an embossed edge with lace-like designs and a dotted edge
• The gold filigree contains images of four-leaf clover and flowers
• Colors include espresso, tomato red, tangerine, gold, pale pink, peach, grey, and black

{CONDITION}

In lovely antique condition, this plate is over 100 years old and looks like it has had a few adventures throughout its long life, giving it an authentic aged character. There is light crazing on the front and the back, a small, very light hairline crack that can be seen on both the front and the back near the right side shoulder,  some fading of the clover filigree and a few small scratches near the woman's face. Please see photos.

{SIZE}

Measures 9.75" inches in diameter and weighs 1.2 lbs.