Exquisite Antique Pirkenhammer/ Wahliss Wien Ornate Gilded Plates 9.5\" Set of 2 For Sale

Stunning pair of antique Bohemian porcelain plates manufactured by Pirkenhammer and hand-decorated or retailed by Ernst Wahliss in Vienna (Wien), Austria. Dating to the late 19th or early 20th century (circa 1890–1910), these stunning cabinet plates showcase exquisite craftsmanship. They feature heavily encrusted raised gilt patterns, an intricate central gold medallion, and stylized floral motifs layered over vibrant bands of teal blue and silver grey.

The plates are in great antique condition with minimal wear of the gilding.

*Condition Note: There is a small spot of missing red paint/enamel fill inside two of the raised gold border accents near the outer edge of the grey bordered plate. The surrounding heavy gilding and raised jewel work remain intact. Please review the detailed close-up image to evaluate.

The plates measure 9.5\" in diameter.

The historical background of these beautiful pieces is provided below

History:

Authentic antique Bohemian porcelain blank manufactured by Pirkenhammer and subsequently decorated by a specialized studio in Vienna, Austria.

The combination of the three distinct marks tells the exact story of how the piece was produced:

1. The Factory Stamp (The Crossed Hammers)- This is the signature symbol of the Pirkenhammer porcelain factory, located in Březová (Pirkenhammer). This specific tiny mark indicates that the high-quality white porcelain body (the \"blank\") was pressed and fired at their facility.

2. The Decorator / Retailer Signature - The handwritten script \"Wahliss Wien\". This denotes the specific decorating studio, artist, or high-end porcelain boutique in Vienna that purchased the white blank from Pirkenhammer to apply the intricate, heavy gold-gilded pattern. Because major porcelain houses often sold their blanks to independent Viennese workshops, dual-marked pieces like this are highly prized by collectors for their historical lineage.

3. The Retailer or Exporter Sticker (partial) This was typically added either by the decorating workshop or an exclusive Viennese retailer who commissioned the design for their storefront or export.

Estimated Production Era:

Given the style of the script and the configuration of the underglaze Pirkenhammer hammers, this plate dates to the late historicist or early Art Nouveau period (circa 1890–1910).

The handwritten \"Wahliss Wien\" signature and the partial red arched banner mark are directly tied to the elite distribution network of Ernst Wahliss. Ernst Wahliss operated the most prestigious luxury retail department store in Austria, known as the \"Porzellanhaus Ernst Wahliss\" on the high-end Kärntnerstraße in Vienna. Wahliss didn\'t just manufacture his own porcelain; his empire was built on buying the absolute finest hard-paste white \"blanks\" from Bohemia\'s top-tier factories—specifically Pirkenhammer —and having them decorated. When you see the combination of the underglaze green Pirkenhammer hammers, the handwritten script, and the partial red/gold Wahliss studio banner, you have a textbook example of turn-of-the-century luxury collaboration. The porcelain body was made by the best structural kiln in Bohemia, while the actual styling, heavy gold paste, and retail distribution were handled by the premier luxury house in Vienna.

(Mixing and matching colors within a high-end service was a popular convention among elite European porcelain houses around 1900. A full service might include a mix of solid gold, cobalt blue, ruby red, or teal green variants sharing the same gold pattern structure to create a vibrant, luxurious table setting. )