Bourgeois Saint-Honoré porcelain dinner service from Paris, 1880

A set of plates with a gilt monogram and Greek key pattern. Paris porcelain, signed by the porcelain merchant Bourgeois, active at 237 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris. Circa 1860–1880. Set of 42 plates: 30 dinner plates and 12 soup plates. White hard-paste porcelain, decorated with fine gold applied by hand. Diameter: 23.5 cm. Green handwritten mark under the base: “Bourgeois, 237 rue St-Honoré.” Bourgeois was not a manufacturer, but a retailer and publisher of quality porcelain from Parisian factories, sometimes from Limoges, which he had decorated in Parisian workshops according to his clientele's taste. The rim decoration features a finely drawn gilt Greek key pattern, framed by gold lines and pearls, typical of the Neoclassical style of the Second Empire. At the center, a gilded monogram forms a richly stylized initial "A," inspired by the Neo-Renaissance, with a symmetrical cartouche, lateral volutes, and a fleur-de-lis motif at the base. The composition evokes both Gothic architecture and aristocratic ornamentation. Monograms of this type adorned commissioned tableware made for noble families or the upper middle class, symbols of belonging and social distinction. The slightly larger than standard diameter (23.5 cm) suggests a special commission or a particular series executed for a Parisian townhouse. The exquisitely fine, perfectly centered gilding, as well as the translucency of the clay, attest to a high level of decorative craftsmanship. Condition: Excellent overall condition; slight oxidation to the gilding, no chips or cracks. A harmonious piece. Certificate of authenticity. Shipping available. A bit of history: Bourgeois, Merchant and Publisher of Porcelain in Paris, 237 rue Saint-Honoré (circa 1860-1880) and Le Grand Dépôt, 21 rue Drouot (from 1875). The Bourgeois House – 237 rue Saint-Honoré. The Bourgeois House, active between 1860 and 1880, specialized in the sale and distribution of porcelain from Parisian and Limoges manufacturers. Located at 237 rue Saint-Honoré, this prestigious address reflects a high-end business, targeting an affluent bourgeois clientele. Objects marked “Bourgeois – 237 rue Saint-Honoré – Paris” are distinguished by their hand-painted decorations and gold trim, characteristic of Parisian porcelain of the period. The Grand Dépôt – 21 rue Drouot. In 1875, Émile Bourgeois founded the Grand Dépôt, a department store specializing in tableware, at 21 rue Drouot, in the heart of the antiques district. This large store distinguished itself by its diverse offerings: porcelain, earthenware, and glassware from the leading French manufacturers. Thanks to illustrated catalogs and active advertising, the Grand Dépôt attracted a wider clientele, from the bourgeoisie to the middle class, and participated in world's fairs starting in 1889. The two establishments, although distinct in their commercial structure, shared the same brand identity and the same sector: porcelain and tableware. The transition from rue Saint-Honoré to the Grand Dépôt appears to have been a natural evolution for the Bourgeois business, moving from a merchant-publisher of unique pieces to a large-scale retailer, adapting to the new economic and commercial dynamics of the sector. This evolution reflects the changes in the porcelain and tableware market at the end of the 19th century, moving from artisanal production to mass production and large-scale sales.