The Piece

A delicately hand-painted Bavarian porcelain saucer produced by P.T. Bavaria – Tirschenreuth, decorated in soft washes of violet, lavender, and leafy green. The florals drift in a graceful crescent along the rim—loose, expressive, and unmistakably crafted by hand. Each petal holds the gentle transparency of watercolor glaze; each leaf reveals the fine drag of the artist’s brush. A scalloped, lightly undulating rim, finished in warm brushed gilt, frames the entire composition like a small botanical painting.

Signed GUNN on the face, this saucer belongs to the early 20th-century tradition of studio painters—independent artists who purchased high-quality Bavarian whiteware blanks and decorated each piece individually. The result is a one-of-a-kind object: intimate, painterly, and rich with romantic charm.

Displayed on a stand, layered within a curio cabinet, or styled as a soft accent on a vanity or sideboard, it reads not as simple tableware, but as a miniature work of European decorative art—feminine, nostalgic, and quietly exquisite.

Design & Construction

→ Form & Style

Classic early-20th-century Bavarian porcelain, defined by:

• A scalloped, gently flowing rim

• A shallow central well

• Hand-applied gold-gilt edge

• Impressionistic violets in lavender, purple, green, and ochre

• Loose botanical strokes with watercolor-like softness

The aesthetic pulls from late-period Art Nouveau’s delicate florals while anticipating early Art Deco’s stylized botanical themes.

→ Materials

• High-fired Bavarian porcelain (P.T. Bavaria – Tirschenreuth)

• Hand-applied underglaze and overglaze pigments

• Warm gold gilt rim

• Artist’s signature GUNN

• Stamped Bavarian factory mark on underside

Renowned for its luminous white clay bodies, Tirschenreuth porcelain was prized by artists for its smoothness, translucence, and ability to hold fine painterly detail.

→ Technique

• Porcelain blank molded and fired in Tirschenreuth, Bavaria

• Imported to the United States through an early 20th-century distributor

• Hand-painted by a studio artist using layered, fluid strokes

• Gilding brushed by hand along the rim

• Artist’s signature applied to both front and underside

Each variation in opacity and pigment confirms that the decoration is entirely hand-painted—not transferware or reproduction.

History & Provenance

Dating to c. 1915–1930, this saucer was produced by P.T. Bavaria – Tirschenreuth, one of Bavaria’s most respected porcelain manufacturers, known internationally for producing premium blanks for hand-painters.

At the time, china-painting guilds, art studios, and independent decorators—many of them women—purchased Bavarian blanks and transformed them into individually signed works of art. The signature GUNN aligns with the era’s American studio-painting community, whose members often created custom gifts, boutique shop pieces, or small collectible runs.

Today, these hand-painted Bavarian florals remain highly collectible for their artistry, individuality, and the deeply personal nature of their creation—each piece crafted by a single artist’s hand.

Condition

Excellent vintage condition with:

• Clean, luminous porcelain surface

• Fully intact gilt rim

• No chips, cracks, or crazing

• Strong, unfaded floral painting

• Clear GUNN signature

A beautifully preserved example of early 20th-century studio-painted Tirschenreuth porcelain.

Product Details

Why It Belongs in Your Home

This piece adds a tender, romantic warmth to any space—small enough to tuck into a vignette, yet expressive enough to draw the eye. The hand-painted violets introduce soft color and painterly texture, while the scalloped gilt edge brings a touch of timeless refinement.

Unlike mass-produced décor, this piece carries a personal signature, real brushwork, and more than a century of history. It offers:

• a whisper of European elegance

• genuine hand-painted artistry

• a one-of-a-kind object touched by a single artist

• warmth, nostalgia, and feminine detail

• a light, botanical presence that softens and enriches interiors

In a curated home, this saucer becomes more than a dish—it becomes a small story, an heirloom, and a beautifully preserved piece of early 20th-century craft.