Q: This 6-inch plate was given to me by my grandmother, who died in 1948. It has two marks on the back, a crown with the words “Coronet” and “Limoges, France” and another mark that says “Exclusive Design” above a circle with the words “Pitkin & Brooks, Chicago, Hand Painted.” Can you give me the history and value of this plate?
A: Porcelain marked “Coronet” and “Limoges” was made in France and sold by several different importers. Your plate was hand painted at Pitkin & Brooks, a company founded by Edward Hand Pitkin and J.W. Brooks in Chicago in 1872. The company was an importer and manufacturer of china, glass and lamps that was in business until about 1920. Plates from Pitkin & Brooks have sold for $45 to $200 depending on the decoration.
