Presented is a superb quality signed Portuguese Majolica Palissy plate with a lush rainforest scene. The plate is very intricately done with full figural animals and insects on the surface surrounded by foliage, like a panoramic sculpture. The central figures are a colorful lizard facing off with a snake from inside its burrow, with various butterflies, beetles, and caterpillars surrounding. The colors are very rich and eye catching, and the plants, animals, and insects are very detailed and finely formed. Please view our photos carefully to see all the details! The back of the plate has a wire for hanging.
The piece is signed on the underside for Jose A. Cunha, Portugal, Caldas Rainha.
This piece is in excellent condition. There is some dust in the recesses which could easily be cleaned up, we leave this to the buyer. There is a small flake to the glaze of the underside footrim, which is hard to notice without turning the piece over and inspecting it closely and will certainly never be seen while the plate is being displayed. You can see this in the eighth photo at about the 5 o'clock position. There are no other chips, no cracks, no breaks, and no repairs.
The dish measures about 9 ½ inches in diameter and stands about 1 1/2 inches tall at the edge, or about 3 inches tall at the highest point of the decoration.
