Vintage Villeroy And Boch Mettlach Phanolith Or Chromolith Decorative Plate In Metal Gallery Frame Appraisal

Vintage Villeroy & Boch Mettlach Phanolith or Chromolith Decorative Plate in Metal Gallery Frame

This is a decorative ceramic plate, likely a Mettlach charger from Villeroy & Boch, featuring a detailed multi-colored transfer-ware or chromolithograph scene. The central illustration depicts children in late 18th or early 19th-century European rustic attire engaged in play around a wooden table under a grape arbor. The color palette is composed of soft earth tones, greens, blues, and reds. The ceramic plate is secured within a secondary metal frame, likely pewter or silver-plated brass, featuring a prominent, continuous reticulated Greek key motif throughout the wide border. The outer rim shows a secondary patterned border. In terms of condition, the metal gallery exhibits a dark, aged patina with significant tarnish and some spotting, which is consistent with early 20th-century metalwork. The ceramic surface appears glossy and intact, though there is a small visible imperfection or pit near the center-left edge of the ceramic insert. The craftsmanship suggests a late Victorian or Edwardian era production (circa 1890-1920), typical of German stoneware or porcelain manufacturers known for high-quality narrative scenes. The assembly is heavy and complex, indicates quality decorative arts manufacturing.