Small Bowl “Higgins & Seiter” – Manufacture Elite Works (Bawo & Dotter) – Limoges, c. 1896–1915

Small Limoges porcelain bowl marketed in the United States by Higgins & Seiter of New York.

Round in shape, this small piece features a delicately scalloped rim highlighted by a fine gilt border. The white porcelain is decorated with hand-painted flowers in shades of fuchsia, accompanied by foliage in soft green tones. The light and refined decoration is concentrated mainly around the rim, contrasting beautifully with the whiteness of the porcelain.

The underside bears two distinct marks: “ELITE / L / FRANCE” in green and “HIGGINS & SEITER NEW YORK” in red. The Elite mark is associated with the production of Bawo & Dotter / Elite Works in Limoges, while Higgins & Seiter identifies the New York distributor. The combination of these two marks illustrates the marketing of French porcelain in the American market during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Thanks to its small size, the bowl can be used as a small catchall, a decorative dish or as part of a tea service, for example to hold a used tea bag after brewing. It can also accommodate a small treat or a few small objects. Its delicate floral decoration and gilt border make it an attractive decorative object.

Higgins & Seiter was a leading New York firm specialising in tableware and luxury goods, particularly fine porcelain and high-quality cut glass. Active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it catered to an affluent clientele and marketed porcelain imported from renowned European manufacturers.

The company's origins date to the period following the American Civil War, but the partnership was formally established in 1887 by Colonel Charles Jacob Seiter and brothers Barton B. and Arthur Higgins. Following considerable success, the firm opened an imposing six-storey building in 1901, designed by architect Mortimer C. Merritt and extending from 51–55 West 21st Street to 50–54 West 22nd Street. Its showrooms featured Carrara marble, bronzes and exclusive European tableware. After relocating to 9 East 37th Street, the prestigious firm encountered financial difficulties and ceased operations in 1915.

This small bowl is an interesting example of Limoges porcelain intended for the American market, bearing both the mark of its French manufacturer and that of its New York distributor.