Winterthur weighs in.
It pays to stick to your guns
"Dear Mr. ******
,
What a wonderful piece! We do have three versions of this dish in our collection, but one in particular is a very close match to yours. In our record, we have the following notes:
Created exclusively for export to America, this plate probably was designed to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 1826. This plate is part of a series of patterns that have come to be known as the 'States Border' or 'America and Independence' series. While each pattern in the series features a different central view, each central image is flanked by two female figures on plinths identified as 'AMERICA AND' and 'INDEPENDENCE.' The figure on the left, wearing an apron bearing a square and compass, holds a portrait of George Washington and wears a blindfold labeled 'Justice.' The kneeling figure at right holds a staff on which a cap bearing the word 'LIBERTY' is perched. Surrounding the figures of America and Independence are scalloped panels with the names of the first 15 American states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Kentucky. Interestingly, by the time this plate was produced an additional nine states had entered the Union, but only 15 of the 24 states are represented in the pattern. The central images in this series are based on copperplate engravings published by William Marshall in London from 1825 to 1828, and were likely small and untitled to hide the fact that English views were being featured in patriotic American patterns.
I have also attached an image of our dish. The transfer printing looks extremely close, with small spacing variations that likely resulted from the application process rather than the original printed design. That being said, the Staffordshire potteries were notorious about copying each other’s designs. In my personal opinion, however, the resemblance of the pattern is quite strong. The treatment of the underside (image also attached) is also very close, and they bear an impressed stamp in the upper right corner. The red you see on the underside of ours is the museum tracking number.
I hope this is of help!
Best wishes,
Lea"
