A plate that outlasted the empire it was made in — and still commands attention.
This Zeh, Scherzer & Co. cabinet plate in the Marseille blank features a still life of oranges, grapes, and nuts rendered against a white ground, surrounded by an embossed border of extraordinary intricacy and finished in a detailed gold design. The Marseille name refers to the shape and style of the blank itself — a format favored for display rather than use. The backstamp dates this piece to between 1880 and 1918, the period when Z.S.&C. was producing porcelain compared by contemporaries to Rosenthal and Hutschenreuther.
Zeh, Scherzer & Co. was founded in Rehau, Bavaria in 1880, opened their own art department in 1908, and produced fine porcelain until 1992. A rare find in this pattern and an exceptional addition to a serious cabinet plate collection.
Maker: Zeh, Scherzer & Co. (Z.S.&C.), Rehau, Bavaria, Germany
Pattern: Marseille (blank shape)
Origin: Bavaria, Germany
Era: 1880–1918
Dimensions: Approx. 6.25 inches diameter
Material: Porcelain with embossed border and gilding
Condition: Good antique — surface scratches in center and gold rim wear consistent with age; crazing beginning on reverse; no chips or cracks
