Frie Onnaing strawberry plate

Antiek majolica met aardbeien temidden van hun blad. In goede staat zonder barsten of chips. Enig craquelé als tekenen van ouderdom. Doorsnede 21 cm.

La Faïencerie d’Onnaing was founded in Onnaing, France, by Charles, Knight de Bousies and his cousin Frederick, Baron of Sécus in February of 1821. The two had previously opened the pottery of Nimy-Les-Mons in Belgium in 1798 and decided to open a second location in France they called Frie Onnaing. In 1827, Alexandre Giraud, acquired the pottery and ran it with his brother Charles Giraud. The two potteries remained in their control until Jean-Pierre and Jean-Baptiste Mouzin became administrators in 1858.

The company produced only earthenware faience from its founding until 1838. After this they experimented with a number of different bodies, importing clays from England and other areas in Europe. Their main production remained in plain or simply decorated earthenware and transfer decorated pottery for everyday use— sanitary wares, serving, etc.

Around 1870 the company entered the majolica market in a grand way with the production of floral and figural majolica pitchers; vases and jardinieres; smoking paraphernalia; banks; plates, strawberry sets and asparagus sets. It is for their colorful majolica that they are best remembered today.

Onnaing pieces have a color palette as well as a similar decorative style to those at the pottery of Nimy-Le-Mons. Flowers were a central theme of their jardinieres and vases although animals were sometimes incorporated into these jardinieres as well.

In 1900 the pottery came under the administration of Hans Mouzin. In 1914 the pottery was damaged during World War 1 and ceased the production of majolica. The pottery resumed production in 1921 and operated until 1938 when the factory closed. The facility was permanently liquidated by 1947.

Onnaing majolica pieces are sometimes marked with the name of the pottery, sometimes with the company shield, sometimes with an impressed starburst, sometimes with an impressed French horn, and sometimes with only a catalog number. If they were made between 1890 and 1909 they also include the word FRANCE. After 1910 they are marked MADE IN FRANCE.