Perhaps it takes a grounded personality to appreciate a pattern like Gien’s “Fraises en Folie.” These strawberries are not wild—they’re mad. Fit for a Mad Hatter’s tea party. Cracking up, gleefully. The “Gien France” stamp is a mirror-image. Colors flip: leaves turn pink, berries green. Hand-painted staples hold together hand-painted cracks, as if straining with the effort to hold something more weighty together, words and their meanings, for example.

I don’t think there’s a better pattern. The “Fraises en Folie” limited edition collector’s set of six dessert plates from the 1990’s was released with a different border pattern from the Gien archives on each one: Oiseaux from 1890, Eglantiers from 1880, Rubans from 1985, Roses from 1910, Militaire from 1875 and (missing from my set unless I find it—it’s somewhere) Froesia from 1910.

Set of five (5) hand-painted porcelain plates. Perfect condition. Stunners.

Welcome to the KNA Krush Pad, a carefully curated space featuring “crushable” objects of beauty and utility meant to evoke the Wine Country lifestyle. Many are one-of-a-kind finds from our adventures. No returns or exchanges, so please choose carefully. Price includes shipping. Email Jennifer with questions: Jennifer@knawines.com.