Place Card Holders
MakerMade by
Karl Ens Porcelain Factory
Germany, founded 1898
Original OwnerOriginally owned by
Margaret Brockway
American, born 1889
Datemid 20th century
MediumMold-formed porcelain with overglaze gilding and enamels in blue, green, pink, yellow, and black
DimensionsComponent (height x width x depth of place card holder .a): 1 3/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 3/8in. (3.5 x 4.4 x 6cm)
Component (height x width x depth of place card holder .b): 1 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 3/8in. (2.9 x 4.4 x 6cm)
Component (height x width x depth of place card holder .b): 1 1/8 x 1 3/4 x 2 3/8in. (2.9 x 4.4 x 6cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Margaret Brockway Ofslager
DescriptionA pair of porcelain place card holders with gilding and overglaze enamels in blue, green, black, yellow, and pink. Each place card holder is shaped like abutterfly, with wings stretched up to hold the place cards, resting on a small, oval pad of porcelain. Each has a dark body and colorful wings with gilded antennae and six legs painted on the white porcelain pad. The butterflies each have a slightly different shape and very different coloring.
The first place card holder (.a) has a butterfly with an elongated hind wing. The body and edges of the fore wings are painted blue, while most of the wings are colored pink. There are four circles of blue enamel on the wings of the butterfly. Gilding is applied to the edges of the wings and in a pattern over the blue and pink enamel.
The second place card holder (.b) has a butterfly with a black body. The wings of the butterfly are of varying colors, from yellow near the body to green to blue near the edge of the wings. There are four spots of blue, outlined in gilding on the wings. Gilding is also applied to the edges of the wings and in a pattern over the blue, green, and yellow enamel.
The place card holders are in good condition. Some yellowed paper is adhered to the underside of the left wing of the butterfly on place card holder .a.
The first place card holder (.a) has a butterfly with an elongated hind wing. The body and edges of the fore wings are painted blue, while most of the wings are colored pink. There are four circles of blue enamel on the wings of the butterfly. Gilding is applied to the edges of the wings and in a pattern over the blue and pink enamel.
The second place card holder (.b) has a butterfly with a black body. The wings of the butterfly are of varying colors, from yellow near the body to green to blue near the edge of the wings. There are four spots of blue, outlined in gilding on the wings. Gilding is also applied to the edges of the wings and in a pattern over the blue, green, and yellow enamel.
The place card holders are in good condition. Some yellowed paper is adhered to the underside of the left wing of the butterfly on place card holder .a.
Object number1978.45.13a-b
MarkingsThe following green printed mark appears on both place card holders: "Ens/ Volkstedt" with the letters "E", "N" and "S" beween the lines of an elongated "X" over a vertical line that ends in a few spots of additional green (perhaps imitating a stylized flower stuck in the ground).Subject Terms
On View
Not on view
