Set Of 42 Paris Porcelain Plates Signed Bourgeois, Rue Saint-honoré. Circa 1880

Service of plates with gilt monogram and Greek frieze. Paris porcelain, signed by the porcelain merchant Bourgeois, active at 237 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris. Circa 1860–1880.

Set of 42 plates: 30 dinner plates and 12 soup plates. White hard-paste porcelain, fine gold-gilt decoration applied with a brush. Diameter: 23.5 cm. Green handwritten mark under the base: "Bourgeois, 237 rue St-Honoré." Bourgeois was probably not a manufacturer, but a reseller-publisher of quality porcelain from Parisian factories, sometimes from Limoges, which he had decorated in Parisian workshops according to the tastes of his clients.

The rim decoration features a finely traced gilt Greek frieze, framed with gold threads and pearls, typical of the neoclassical style of the Second Empire.
In the center, a gilded monogram forms a richly stylized neo-Renaissance-inspired initial "A," with a symmetrical cartouche, lateral volutes, and a fleur-de-lis motif at the base.
The composition evokes both Gothic architecture and aristocratic ornamentation. Monograms of this type adorned commissioned tableware made for noble families or the upper middle class, symbols of belonging and social distinction.

The slightly larger-than-standard diameter (23.5 cm) suggests a special commission or a particular series executed for a Parisian mansion. The extremely fine, perfectly centered gilding, as well as the transparency of the paste, testify to high-level decorative work.

Condition: Excellent overall condition; slight oxidation to the gilding, no chips or cracks. Homogeneous ensemble. With certificate of authenticity and suitable delivery.

A bit of history:

Bourgeois, Porcelain Merchant and Publisher in Paris, 237 rue Saint-Honoré (circa 1860-1880) and Le Grand Dépôt, 21 rue Drouot (from 1875).

La Maison Bourgeois – 237 rue Saint-Honoré.

La Maison Bourgeois, active between 1860 and 1880, specialized in the sale and production of porcelain from Parisian and Limousin manufacturers.
Located at 237 rue Saint-Honoré, this prestigious address is a testament to a high-end business, targeting a wealthy bourgeois clientele. Objects marked “Bourgeois – 237 rue Saint-Honoré – Paris” are distinguished by their hand-painted decorations and gold trim, characteristic of Parisian porcelain of the period.

Le Grand Dépôt – 21 rue Drouot.

In 1875, Émile Bourgeois founded Le Grand Dépôt, a department store specializing in tableware at 21 rue Drouot, in the heart of the antiques district. 
This large-scale store was distinguished by its diverse offering: porcelain, earthenware, and glassware from the leading French manufacturers. Thanks to illustrated catalogs and active advertising, Le Grand Dépôt attracted a wider clientele, from the bourgeoisie to the middle class, and participated in world exhibitions starting in 1889.

The two companies, although distinct in their commercial structure, shared a common brand identity and the same sector: porcelain and tableware.
The transition from rue Saint-Honoré to Le Grand Dépôt appears to be a natural transformation of the Bourgeois business, evolving from a retailer-publisher of unique pieces to a mass-market store, adapting to the new economic and commercial dynamics of the sector.
This development reflects the changes in the porcelain and tableware market at the end of the 19th century, moving from artisanal production to mass production and large-scale sales.