Very rare, attractive and unusual porcelain plates, circa 1870,  from the service made for Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna daughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia.

The plates with a highly unusual emerald green ground are superbly hand-painted in silver with a large diamond Russian Imperial crown and gold conjoined cipher of Maria Nikolaevna (1819-1876) and her husband Maximilian de Beauharnais Duke of Leuchtenberg (grandson of Napoleon’s first wife, the Empress Josephine):  interlaced M and H (for Maria) with Cyrillic letter ‘ Л ‘ in center for Leuchtenberg.

The plates were decorated in Paris, decorator’s name on back.

Diameter 21 cm (9 1/2 in.)

Three plates are available. The price is per plate, not for all three. By clicking on BUY NOW button, you are purchasing ONE plate.

Plate No 1 – a small repaired rim chip and minor touch ups to the green ground – sold

Plate No 2 – a small repaired rim chip and minor wear to green ground around center – sold

Plate No 3 – a small repaired rim chip and minor stains on border – sold