A.T Finney & Sons Ltd owned the tradename DUCHESS and were based in Longton, Staffordshire
This side plate IS part of a trio of the same design, split up as we felt the individual pieces may be of more interest to someone - look HERE to see another piece of the same design
DLAT Rating 10/10 !!! (Darling Look At This!)
DUCHESS - Side Plate ONLY
Made in England
Circa period 1960's ~ 1980's
Four sided irregular shaped plate, meaning the corners all have decorative curves
Fine White Bone China
Translucent, meaning if held to the light you can see your fingers through the china
Transferware decorated (assumed) because there are no artists marks on the underneath and the artwork looks just too perfect!
Hand gold gilding applied to the outer scalloped rim edge
Pink roses with foliage on a pure white background, two different designs on each side of the side plate with the much large design flowing in towards the centre.
The colouring is delicate, pastel and very 'dainty', perfectly suited to a High Tea gathering or just keeping on show in the china cabinet. This teaset trio was barely used because it is just so pretty and delicate looking!
Scalloped rim
Gold gilding to the rim edging only
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Backstamp design strongly suggests this side plate was produced in the period 1960's ~ 1980's based on the Crown graphic placed at the top of the backstamp, very clean, simplified backstamp design, only the word ENGLAND (not Made In) and the use of transfers for the decoration.
Black colouring
(Simple graphic of a crown)
DUCHESS
BONE CHINA
ENGLAND
There is no Artist nor Gold gilder's marks
COSMETIC CONDITION:
CLEAN
NO cracks
NO discolouration
NO crazing
Gilding is in excellent condition with no signs of handling or washing wear at all.
I did notice a very small mark, a grey purple colour, near the small roses design. Now this really makes me wonder about whether this is transferware because for all the world it looks like this mark is the same colouring as used in the rose design and it does appear to be under the glaze. This same type of mark was also found on the saucer. The mark has not occured after it left the factory and no amount of rubbing could remove it. It feels smooth to the touch too. I took many more looks at the artwork and gee, if this was hand painted, it has been extremely well done (except for that possible dash of paint showing up as a tiny mark!)
Have a look at my description of the saucer, almost the same mark on that piece as well.
