HISTORY:
China Oh China, we loved and caressed you in our hands but now it is time to find a new loving, caring home!
My wife is making way for much OLDER chinaware that she is now focused on - hand painted and pre-1900's English - Irish
This side plate was part of a trio but the teacup "departed this earth" as teacups do when they are dropped!
Never heard of Old Royal? It is the trading name used by Sampson Smith who began operations way back in 1846. Of course this saucer is much more recent, it would have left the works during the early 1960's - production ceased around 1963
DLAT RATING: 9/10 (Darling Look At This!)
Dainty, delicate, very pleasing "bright happy" design (who can resist smiling at a daisy?) When presented as a trio teaset, very nice however sadly, the teacup has "passed away"
The sister of this side plate (the saucer) is advertised HERE
SAMPSON SMITH (ENGLAND) - Side Plate ONLY
Tradename: Old Royal
Circa period early 1960's (based on general design and decoration techniques used and the fact that they stopped all production in 1963)
Fine Bone China
Pattern: Unidentified or known - we just call these the "Daisy" teaset
Hand decorated
Background colour is brilliant White
Design: Daisies, daisies and more daisies ... a very bright Spring like appearance using multicoloured daisies arranged in three groups.
We are not so sure about how the artwork was created, it's actually really interesting to take a very close look at the artwork. Taking a look at the flower petals, it is as though the artwork is a hybrid of both hand work and transfer. Some areas are solid looking colouring and then the distinctive dot or hash patterning from transferware on top of the solid colouring. With all that said, there are no artist or gilder's marks on the underside at all.
STARTLING INFO ... Just as with the saucer (in the same spot) we never thought we would come across this but only today while looking at this artwork did we discover what for all the world appear to be little codes! While looking at the lime Green foliage between the two Red/Pink daisies there is a Black line which we assumed was a branch or leaf "vein" (do leaves have veins?)
Now take a really closeup look at that Black line and it is not brush strokes or dots as we were expecting but it looks so much like a string of numbers and letters! Weird huh?
Shape: The side plate is not smooth but has ribbed sides running in a border before becoming smooth in the central area. The top rim is broadly scalloped.
Feathered Gold gilding is heavily applied to the rim only
Translucent (you can easily see the shadow of your fingers through the china when held up to a strong light source)
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Makers mark printed on the base of the side plate (under the glaze)
DIMENSIONS:
150mm diameter
CONDITION:
NO cracks
NO chips
NO crazing
NO discolouration observed to the brilliant White base porcelain
NO damage or wear is apparent to the artwork
Three fleabite's observed on the underside, clean and no bacterial colour changes (Brown's etc) has occurred - in fact they are very difficult to see but can be found by touch.
