Antique Hand-Painted Porcelain Plaque in Ornate Gilt Bronze Frame

This is a fine antique porcelain plaque, likely of KPM or similar high-quality European manufacture, depicting a young woman carrying water buckets with a shoulder yoke. The central subject is dressed in traditional rustic or peasant attire, including a red skirt, a white bodice or chemise, and a blue headscarf. The painting demonstrates significant skill in miniature portraiture, with delicate shading and soft tonal transitions characteristic of the late 19th or early 20th century. The plaque is set within an exceptionally ornate gilt bronze or brass rococo-style mount, featuring scrolling acanthus leaves, floral motifs, and decorative crests at all four cardinal points. This inner frame is subsequentlly mounted against a dark green or black velvet mat, which is housed within a larger outer wooden shadowbox frame. The use of mixed materials—porcelain, gilt metal, and textile—suggests a luxury decorative item intended for a parlous or library setting. Condition-wise, the gold finish on the metal mount appears largely intact with minor age-related oxidation. The velvet shows some light dust and texture wear. The porcelain itself appears free of visible cracks or chips, though it is viewed through glazing. This piece exemplifies the 19th-century fascination with romanticized genre scenes and high-end craftsmanship in ceramic arts.