An English Armorial Monogrammed Plate, Staffordshire, circa 1800
This English porcelain plate would have been made as a replacement for a monogrammed armorial Chinese export service. The centre is painted with a shield containing the monogram H I B, festooned with flowers and suspended by a pink ribbon from a swagged garland. This enamel and gilt decoration is minutely applied by hand. The border consists of an underglaze Fitzhugh pattern of butterflies and flowers, with a band of cell or diaper decoration. A fine gilt-spearhead chain encircles the cavetto, and the shaped rim is decorated with a gilt line.
Interestingly, unlike the Qianlong or Jiaqing original, which would have been meticulously hand painted, the underglaze blue decoration here is entirely transfer printed. The original Chinese service would have been commissioned by a well-to-do British or North American family during the last quarter of the 18th century. Damages being inevitable, this replacement plate would have been commissioned from one of the Staffordshire porcelain manufactories operating at the beginning of the 19th century.
Condition: In good display condition. The plate is cracked, with staple repairs. It remains stable, with no movement. There is some fine crazing to the clear glaze, and minor wear to the surface and the gilt rim from use.
Dimensions: Diameter 24 cm
Chinese Export Ceramics, Rose Kerr and Luisa E. Mengoni (V&A Publishing, 2011).