This is Mon Amie, a masterpiece by Marianne Westman, a key designer at Rörstrand. Mon Amie means "lover" in French. Reproduction plates of Mon Amie are still on sale today, but they are all made in Indonesia.
This is a discontinued original Swedish vintage cake plate. Since there is no VDN mark on the backstamp, it was manufactured in Sweden between 1973 and 1987.
The main difference between the Indonesian Monami reproduction and the original Swedish version is the base color. The reproduction has a pure white base, while the vintage version has a more subdued off-white base.
Furthermore, the blue color of the reproduction is uniform and vibrant, but the vintage pieces are hand-tinted, so each one has a different shade, giving them a richness and depth like ultramarine. The reproduction pieces are sometimes too white and too blue, but the vintage pieces are expressive and you can feel the breath of the artisan.
The back stamp is also distinctive. The Indonesian reproduction version reads "MON AMIE Marianne Westman Rörstrand," but the vintage version was made in Sweden, so the stamp on the back always reads "SWEDEN." Although the plate is about half a century old, it has an artistry and a taste not found in modern versions.
■Details Manufacturer: Rorstrand Series: Mon Amie Designer: Marianne Westman Era: 1973-1987 Condition: ★★★★★ (5: Complete)
Although there are very slight signs of wear from storage, this item is in unused deadstock condition. This is the best condition vintage item available on the market.
■ Size: Diameter 17cm, Height 2cm
Marianne Westman
Marianne Westman ( Marianne Westman, 1928-2017 )
Born in the Dalarna region of central Sweden, known for Dalarna horses. In 1950, at the age of 22, he joined Rorstrand as a designer and remained there for 21 years until 1971. As the company's signboard designer, he has created numerous works and brought the masterpiece Mon Amie series to the world. Monami is a masterpiece of Scandinavian design from the mid-20th century, known as "mid-century," and is still loved around the world, with reprints still being produced . Westman's works are characterized by many designs that are conscious of plants and free-spirited patterns that appear to be drawn freehand.
Rörstrand
Rörstrand is Scandinavia's oldest porcelain manufacturer, founded in 1726 in Stockholm, Sweden. The company produced many of Sweden's most celebrated designers, including Marianne Westman, Gunnar Nylund, and Carl-Harry Stålhane. Rörstrand tableware has been used at events such as the Nobel Prize banquet.
Rörstrand produces both everyday tableware and artistic masterpieces. As Europe's second oldest porcelain maker after Meissen, Rörstrand holds a distinguished place in ceramic history. Notably, ARABIA — now known as a Finnish manufacturer — originally started as Rörstrand's Helsinki factory. Our store offers a wide range of products from this most traditional and historic Nordic maker, from art pieces to everyday tableware.
