Charles Field Haviland “GDM” Floral Cabinet Plate, Limoges France, c. 1891-1900

The Piece

Delicate yet unmistakably refined, this antique Limoges cabinet plate was produced by Charles Field Haviland during the golden age of French porcelain. The softly molded square form is accented by subtle Rococo-inspired relief and hand-decorated with trailing sprays of blue wildflowers and finely rendered gray foliage, creating a composition that feels both airy and elegant.

Unlike heavily gilded Victorian china, this example embraces restraint. The sparse botanical decoration leaves generous fields of luminous white porcelain exposed, allowing the exceptional translucency and quality of Limoges porcelain to become part of the design itself.

Originally intended for display in a china cabinet or for elegant dessert service, today it functions equally well as wall décor, tabletop styling, or as part of a curated collection of fine French porcelain.

History 

The underside bears the CFH / GDM decorator’s mark alongside the Charles Field Haviland Limoges factory stamp.

Charles Field Haviland established his own Limoges porcelain works after separating from the famous Haviland & Co. family business during the late nineteenth century. His factory became known for exceptionally fine porcelain blanks decorated in both France and the United States, producing wares that balanced French craftsmanship with designs favored by the American luxury market.

The combination of these marks places production approximately between 1891 and 1900, making this an authentic example of late Victorian French porcelain from one of Limoges’ most respected manufacturers.

Product Details

Why It Endures

Fine Limoges porcelain has remained desirable for more than a century because of its remarkable whiteness, translucency, and precision of manufacture. This plate reflects the transition from ornate Victorian decoration toward a lighter, more refined aesthetic, where craftsmanship speaks louder than excess ornament.

Whether displayed individually or incorporated into a collection of antique French porcelain, it brings quiet sophistication that modern reproductions rarely capture.