HISTORY:
From seemingly 'unremarkable' premises (see the photograph below) comes another of our Crown Staffordshire 'fancy' English tableware.
Crown Staffordshire is one of the 'old' names in Staffordshire although not 1801 as shown on the building and many of their products. 1801 refers to the opening of the works, which was originally occupied by other ceramic manufacturers, Crown Staffordshire coming into existance around the late 1830's
Of course this cake plate & knife do not date from that period, the backstamp design being used from the 1930's onwards and based on where we obtained this cake plate, we can pinpoint the actual period of this plate to the 1950's
At this time, much of the works production was exported to many countries including Australia and New Zealand. We were given this in New Zealand.
This plate has been hand decorated, both the artwork and the Gold gilding, with the artists or worker marks are clearly visible on the underside.
Crown Staffordshire was a highly reputed, high quality porcelain maker, not only of fancy tableware but many beautiful pieces of 'art ceramics'
We like to rate our special fine chinaware visually ....
DLAT 9.5/10 (Darling Look At This!)
Sure, everyone thinks their chinaware is the most beautiful but do they name them? We do!
We affectionately have always referred to this plate & knife set as "Strawberry Fields Forever" - admittedly we were influenced by the 4 lads in UK!
CROWN STAFFORDSHIRE - Cake Serving Plate with original cake knife
Flat style plate - not a pedestal stand
10" (255mm) outer rim diameter
Scalloped, heavily Gold gilded rim
Inner cake plateau diameter (the flat area for your cake to sit within) is 4"(100mm) ~ 5.5"(140mm) diameter - the latter diameter though would cover the innermost artwork, it is best to use a small 4" cake so that the plate 'sets it off' visually.
Most of the artwork sits on a swirled ribbing with only the innermost band of Strawberry Pink being in the flat area of the plate.
The artwork design comprises three main parts, these being the outer Strawberry Pink rim band (with Light Brown inner outlining & Gold gilding), followed by a band of five 'spring flower's of the field' groupings with each being slightly different to the other and finally an inner band of Strawberry Pink with Light Brown outlining.
Cake Knife has a straight ceramic handle with hand decoration.
6" stainless steel knife blade is serrated on one side and has the Crown Staffordshire logo engraved into it (I can feel this work with my finger, it is not a laser cut!)
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED (Barely!)
We didn't use the "Strawberry Fields" plate very much at all, often the plate colouring didn't suit the cakes we were presenting at the time. This is evidenced by almost NO knife cuts or general wear in the central area of the plate.
Absolutely NO cracks
Absolutely NO fleabites
NO crazing (wet & dry tested)
