Pair of antique ormolu mounted porcelain decorative plates

The plates are similarly painted with central bust portraits of French noble women. Inscriptions on the back of the plates identify the figures.

One plate depicts ‘M’lle Boussu Duchesse DeGuise’ and the other, ‘M’e Hogier de Lusignan de Champignotier de Daubant’. It is likely the former refers to Marie de Lorraine (1615-1688), who was the Countess of Boussu and Duchess of Guise. Marie de Lorraine was the last member of the House of Guise, a distinguished French family with connections to French royalty.

The woman in the second plate — ‘M’e Hogier de Lusignan de Champignotier de Daubant’ — is less well-known. It is known, however, that the House of Lusignan, was a famous royal French house, established in the medieval period.

Both women wear fine purple-coloured gowns, fringed with white lace. One woman wears a pearl necklace, and has her wavy, shoulder-length brown hair down. The other lady appears to be slightly older. A crucifix hangs around her neck, and she has her white hair tied up. Both women wear pearls in their hair.

These portraits are set within leafy gilt frames, bordered by colourful flowers, and looping royal blue coloured bands, all set against white grounds. These are then framed by belts of parcel gilt royal blue colour. These are decorated with floral motifs, which are set against white backdrops and placed within foliate gilt frames.

Both porcelain plates are mounted with circular ormolu frames, which take the form of fruiting grape vines. These are each set with two scrolled, leafy ormolu handles. Each plate is raised off the ground by three ormolu, classically-inspired female mask feet, with foliage swags draped between them.