Al Capone’s Hutschenreuther "Royal Bavarian" Dinner Plate From His Estate, With Granddaughter's Provenance

A formal dinner plate personally owned and used by notorious Prohibition-era mobster Al Capone (1899-1947) and his wife Mae Capone (1897-1986). The Hutschenreuther "Royal Bavarian" dinner plate has a classic white ground, with an ornate 24K coin gold hand-engraved foliate border on the celadon rim. With an under-glaze back stamp reading, "Hutschenreuther / Selb Bavaria" verso, and also stamped "Hand Engraved / 24 Carat / Coin Gold" on the underside. Expected light surface wear including utensil marks consistent with occasional to moderately regular use. Isolated areas of gilt loss and spots of rust on the rim, else near fine. 1.75" high, 10.125" in diameter. Provenance: From "A Century of Notoriety: The Estate of Al Capone" Witherell's Auction, October 8, 2021; Al Capone's granddaughters; Albert Francis "Sonny" Capone; Al and Mae Capone. Accompanied by a photocopy of the catalog description originally signed by Al Capone's granddaughter, Barbara Mae Capone.

One of Capone's granddaughters, Diane Patricia Capone, described her "Papa" Al Capone as "kindly." “He was a very devoted family man, very committed to his family," Diane Capone told a reporter from the "San Francisco Chronicle." "Everything about his personal life speaks of family, home, entertaining. He was always very social and it shows...There’s china and furniture and crystal and all kinds of things that made up his personal life.”

As to be expected from an Italian mob figure of Capone’s stature, a lot of his life revolved around entertaining his family, friends, business associates, and fellow mobsters with food and drinks. While the planning of many criminal events likely occurred around his opulent dinner table, many would be surprised that during the Great Depression, Capone opened a soup kitchen at 935 South State Street in Chicago touting “Free Soup, Coffee & Doughnuts for the Unemployed," that served more than 2,000 people a day.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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