Vintage Loucarte Portugal White Asparagus Serving Platter — Sculptural Majolica

Asparagus, but make it Portuguese.

This vintage Loucarte serving platter is molded entirely in relief to resemble a bundle of freshly gathered asparagus spears, tied neatly through the center and finished in a warm ivory-white glaze.

The monochromatic finish is what makes this one particularly good. All of the vegetable detail is there — individual stems, buds and texture — but instead of feeling kitschy, the creamy glaze turns it into a quietly sculptural piece.

Made in Portugal, it works beautifully as functional serveware for vegetables, appetizers or crudités, but I particularly love it propped upright on an open kitchen shelf where the dimensional asparagus pattern can actually be seen.

The underside is marked Loucarte / Made in Portugal. Matching examples are consistently identified as Portuguese glazed ceramic or majolica-style serving platters.

Vintage, likely late 20th century.

DETAILS

Maker: Loucarte
Origin: Portugal
Material: Glazed ceramic / earthenware
Finish: Warm ivory / creamy white
Form: Oval serving platter
Motif: Raised asparagus spears
Production style: Majolica-style molded pottery
Period: Vintage, exact production date unknown
Quantity: 1

DIMENSIONS

Matching examples of this exact Loucarte form are documented at approximately:

12" L × 8.5" W

CONDITION

Good vintage condition with visible crazing throughout the glaze, which the original seller specifically notes. 

No major chips or cracks are apparent in the source photographs.

The crazing is age-related and gives the creamy glaze the softly aged character you’d expect from older earthenware. Please review photographs closely for condition.

DĒSSO NOTE

Proof that vegetables can absolutely be decor.

I love this leaned upright between old cutting boards and ceramics in a kitchen — creamy enough to disappear into a neutral room until you get closer and realize the entire thing is asparagus.

Very European. Slightly ridiculous. Exactly why I bought it.