Important Minton Pate-Sur-Pate porcelain tray with colored paste by Louis Marc Solon (1835-1913), made for the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878. Rectangular "Hildesheim" form with Neoclassical handles accented in gold and platinum having dark brown-black ground with white relief decoration of four female figures in a dressing room or toilette setting; two use a ewer at a sink, while one admires herself in a hand mirror, and another selects a necklace from a box. A blue-colored paste shadow figure of Cupid stands at the center behind a draped cloth. Signed and dated "L. Solon '78" in the paste lower right, with gilded fleur de lis Minton mark for the Paris Exhibition of 1878 en verso along with incised mark and shape number 1765. 1 1/4" H x 13" W x 7" D. Metric width: 33 cm. Note: Solon rarely used colored pastes in his pate sur pate work; it usually appears only on pieces made for exhibitions.

The Estate of Edward Laudermilk, Nashville, Tennessee. Purchased Skinner Auctions, December 1995. The original invoice is available to the winning bidder.

Two rim chips, both under 1/4" (about 5 mm), one to underside of handle at center left side (only visible from back), the other to tip of lowermost right edge of handle. Otherwise very good condition with minimal scattered wear.