HISTORY:
While being a piece of Royal Doulton, this side plate is much more significant historically because it takes you back to a difficult time in world history, World War II.
Due to the British government's focus on the "war effort' substantial restrictions were placed on a wide range of British industries, including those producing tablewares. The products being produced were severly restricted, releasing many workers to become actively involved in the war effort and products from the potteries were often much simplier in design or specially produced for use by the Armed Services.
1941 ~ 1952 was the period these restrictions were in effect and the backstamp of the products had special markings on them ... in this case, the A to the left of the main backstamp indicates this.
ROYAL DOULTON - Side Plate
Circa 1942 ~ 1952
Pattern: D6330 (Cornflower)
White opaque ceramic, meaning that if held to the light, you cannot see a shadow of your fingers through the material
Hand decorated
Artwork design features Blue & Pink flowers with foliage running in a border around the outer edge of the plate. Finished with rim edge Gold gilding.
6.5 inch diameter plate
DIMENSIONS:
6.5 Inches (165mm) diameter
WEIGHT: 160g
The Royal Doulton backstamp clearly shows the A "Concentration" stamping to the left of the main backstamp.
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
All is printed in a lime Green
D6330
CORNFLOWER
Other marks are the Gold gilder's mark right at the tail of the A and completely separated from the main backstamp area, right out near the underside rim is the number 3 (also in lime Green) which looks to have been hand applied - perhaps the artist/decorators mark?
COSMETIC CONDITION:
Clean
NO cracks
NO chips
NO discolouration to the topside artwork or rim decoration
NO wear is apparent to the artwork
Gold gilding to the edge is in substantially good condition, some light handling wear but no missing sections of Gold!
One fleabite observed on the underside - not discoloured
After almost 75+ years, people and objects start to "crack or fray" at the edges and even quality Royal Doulton chinaware's are no exception! The glaze is affected primarily by the environment, humidity and shifts in temperature and this shows up as a cracking of the glazed surface.
This Doulton side platel does not have any crazing evident WHEN DRY but when "wet tested" (such as when you wash the plate), evidence of crazing is apparent - showing as a number of fine lines on the top surface. These do fade away as the plate dries but there is definitely crazing evident, just extremely light.
NO bacteria have managed to find their way underneath the glaze, meaning there is no discolouration to the base ceramic material.
