BACKGROUND:
Wow, this plate makes me speechless! This is definitely not the sort of china art that my wife normally would collect and there is a good reason for this ... this was bought by one of our beautiful daughters who is currently studying Design & Technology and when she heard about this fabulous exhibition happening down in Victoria, she had to go!
This was in early 2023 and the exhibition was the first showing of works by the celebrated fashion designer, Alexander McQueen. "Different" springs to mind, certainly very "out there" but to our daughter, inspirational.
She has decided that there is no need for her to hang onto this momento of her visit any longer and has given it to me so that I can search out a new home for this plate - someone who appreciates what it represents.
If you have never heard of Alexander McQueen, he is an acclaimed British couturier who revolutionised the fashion industry (practically turned it on it's head!) with highly provocative, theatrical style runway shows - incidentally he was also the Chief Designer at Givenchy.
To give an insight into his thinking, a couple of well known quotes that he uttered were ...
"I want to empower women. I want people to be afraid of the women I dress."
"I find beauty in the grotesque, like most artists."
This display plate is Bone China, dishwasher and Microwave safe (as stated on the rear) but Oh My Goodness ... you wouldn't eat off this plate! It is for showing, not holding food.
The original maker of the plate is not identified but this souvenir product was created for the equally fabulous National Gallery Of Victoria (NGV) and their exhibition held a couple of years ago ... Alexander McQueen - Mind Mythos Muse. This was the very first exhibition of his work in Australia.
Of course that show is well and truly over now but their current show "Cartier" would be well worth a trip to take a look at all those fabulous Cartier items (deep pockets needed here!) Go HERE if you wish to see what the Gallery is up to at the moment.
NATIONAL GALLERY VICTORIA - Display Plate
Relating to the Alexander McQueen exhibition held December 2022 ~ April 2023
Subject: Look 15 by Alexander McQueen
Taken from the "Horn Of Plenty" collection, Autumn~Winter 2009 Paris
8.25 inches diameter plate
Bone White China
This plate is quite heavy, even for a display plate, and with the raised rim you will need to use a strong support stand to display this plate.
Weight: 700g
NO plate stand is provided, my wife grabbed the stand off our daughter, she needs every stand she can keep for her own chinaware collection!
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
This display plate is all about the fashion statement, and to a lesser extent, the model (Kamila Filipcikova) and not about who created the physical display plate ... in fact I could not find any clue as to who actually manufactured the plate and the rear simply has NGV printed on the rear. The focus should be on this memorabilia from the NGV exhibition and of course, the photograph (Robert Fairer) on the plate - pretty confronting, this is one powerful woman!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
This display plate is now packaged back in the original box (very nice, solid construction)
CLEAN
NO cracks
NO chips
NO crazing
NO Knife or scratch marks in the central area! Heaven forbid! our daughter never ate off this plate!
All decorative colouring is not faded or dull looking
NO discolouration or damage to the decorative work
The box packaging is also in very good condition with no seam stress or splits, no marks or scratches - almost like you had just walked out of the Exhibition shop!
To keep it looking great, I have now placed this complete boxed display box into a sealed, clear plastic packaging.
