BACKGROUND:
This jam dish was produced by Royal Doulton during wartime, and can be accurately dated to around 1942 because it has the A to the left of the backstamp, which was a marking system introduced in 1942
This is the period in which the British Government introduced the Wartime Concentration scheme, specifically 1941, which restricted the operations of all potteries, some being closed down temporarily or their product focus was to be a limited domestic supply and also to the armed services. The idea was to focus on production of only necessary items and also to free up staff so that they could assist in supporting the war effort.
Even with the restrictions placed upon the English potters, Doulton managed to produce what remains to be an attractive (although quite simple) product for the domestic market.
DLAT Rating: 9/10 (Darling, look at this!)
I have just been given by my wife more Royal Doulton pattern D5533 so there is more to come, take a look HERE to find them
If you wish to see the other Royal Doulton that is currently on this website, click HERE
ROYAL DOULTON - Jam Dish
This dish is intended to be used with the matching scone tray HERE
Opaque (you cannot see the shadow of your fingers when this piece is held to a bright light)
Pattern: D5533
Hand decorated*
*Looking very closely at the techniques used for the decoration, it has characteristics of hand painting in that the artist has used a combination of solid brush strokes and "dabs", colours are often overlaid, such as around the foliage. We feel that the decoration is something like a hybrid between hand strokes and transfer as the work has characteristics of both techniques.
Cream coloured china base
The design is a simple, "peaceful" continuous Pink roses garland with Lime Green & Yellow foliage.
Heavy Gold gilding has been applied to the outer edge/rim only.
Times were tough back then, very tough in fact. Life was very difficult for many during and after WWII in England - What could be better than a nice sitdown with "tea and scones" with the Doulton whilst sitting in the darkened kitchen (all windows were "blacked out" to reduce light from the houses so that the enemy bombers couldn't "take their bearings" from any lights down below them.
It seems bizarre to think of how "things" were back in those days, 80+ years ago, anxiously waiting for the droning sounds of the enemy aircraft to pass overhead, the sounds of explosions and there in front of you would be this very lovely Royal Doulton ware ...
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Here is a photograph of the backstamp from this jam dish
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
NO cracks at all
NO discolouration to the Cream base colouring
NO knife cut markings to the central area of the dish
NO chips
NO damage or wear to the hand decorations
NO crazing is evident (both dry and wet tested)
Gold gilding, which has been applied around the rim exhibits very little, if any, handling wear at all.
Overall, this Royal Doulton D5533 jam dish is in great condition, particularly considering that it is now up to 80 years old now.
