A beautiful classic for collectors of fine Thun porcelain tableware, if you are looking to acquire or complete your collection with its cobalt blue "Blue Onion" patterns under glaze (underglaze printing) released in a limited series. In the 1870s, the porcelain factory in Klášterec nad Ohří was the first to offer porcelain pieces adorned with onions and other floral motifs – a style called "cibulák," derived from the word "cibule" which means "onion." In spring 2024, the porcelain factory of Klášterec nad Ohří will cease all its activities. Thus, the city will have permanently lost its connection with the famous porcelain brand that had been its pride for over two centuries. These plates have been used and may show minor signs of wear. Deep plates: Diameter: 22 cm. I have several items from this service available. In the case of purchasing multiple pieces, I will revise to a lower selling price. A bit of history about this great porcelain house: The second factory of its kind in Czech lands, by the end of the 19th century, Thun porcelain had gained international success. The porcelain factory of Klášterec nad Ohří was founded in 1794 by J. M. Weber, a master forester and administrator of the Thun noble family estate. He wanted to make use of the kaolin deposit discovered on the estate; however, the first attempts at porcelain manufacturing were far from successful... The situation changed in 1797 when the entrepreneur Christian Nonne rented the factory. Under his direction, the quality of production and sales increased rapidly. Notably, Nonne began purchasing kaolin from the vicinity of Kadaň, a municipality in the same region, but of much higher quality. Once Nonne's lease contract expired, it was Count Jan Josef Thun himself who took over the factory. The brand "K" then became "TK." In 1822, Thun finally obtained the charter of franchises for porcelain production. Indeed, during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Czech porcelain factories had to wait an average of 30 years to receive this official document confirming the good quality of their production. During the first half of the 19th century, pieces of tableware still sought after by today's collectors were produced in Klášterec nad Ohří, especially cups and saucers adorned with high-quality paintings made by foreign painters. Starting in 1843, the Klášterec nad Ohří factory received permission to equip itself with a printing press. Thereafter, in addition to hand-painted pieces, it offered items with printed decorations. In the mid-19th century, the porcelain factory turned towards figurative designs, mainly under the direction of sculptor Arnošt Popp. The Thun family remained the owners of the business even during the difficult periods of two World Wars and the interwar years... until nationalization in 1945. From 1958, it became part of the national company Karlovarský porcelán. In 2009, it was bought by the company Thun 1794. However, in recent years, the porcelain factory has faced difficulties due to rising energy prices and falling sales. In spring 2024, the porcelain factory of Klášterec nad Ohří will cease all its activities. Thus, the city will have permanently lost its connection with the famous porcelain brand that had been its pride for over two centuries.