Date: 1815-20
Period: Regency
Maker: Coalport Porcelain Works (John Rose & Co.)
This interesting early Coalport tea plate is shown in a photograph in Michael Messenger’s book, Coalport 1795-1926, see Plate 55 on page 108. He writes of it ‘featuring two distinct types of decoration: attractive but conventional rose painting within a sophisticated and elaborate border, the latter possibly applied outside the factory.’ At the time, many Coalport porcelains were decorated by outside establishments.
The main features of the gilt-framed border are oval wreaths of pink roses set between oval-scrolled swirls of purple acanthus fronds. The purple acanthus is joined across gilt leaves shaped a like a classical lyre. The background is decorated with further foliate gilding.
Besides the central rose, the well of the plate contains scattered flowers in enamels and gilt, including four prickly heads of wild roses.
The porcelain itself is of the ‘hybrid hard-paste’ variety that John Rose used before switching over to bone china. It has a greyish tinge. As so often with Coalport porcelains of this period, the back is unmarked.
CONDITION Excellent, almost perfect. Close inspection reveals some minor scratching of the gilt band around the well and the gilding along the rim. The rough edge of the bottom foot rim is from manufacture.
Diameter: 20.6 cm
Weight: 382 g
Medium: Hard-paste porcelain
Origin: Coalport, Shropshire, England
For background on the factory, see Coalport Porcelain Works (John Rose & Co.) in Makers & Artists
