Hello helpful people:
Another item to test your knowledge!
This is a Staffordshire deep blue commemorative dish, about 2.25 inches deep. The center of the dish shows early 19th century boats on a river or lake with some castellated fortifications and a house on hills in the background. I regret that I don't recognize them. To the left is an allegorical blindfolded female figure titled "America, and" with, on the right, an allegorical figure of a woman in a conical hat with 3 branches at the top titled "Independence." To the left of "America" is a cameo rendering of George Washington, to the right of "Independence" is what looks like a hat on top of a tall stick; "Liberty" is written on the hat.
The sailboats and fortifications are surrounded with flowers and leaves that look to be ca. 1840-50 in style. Around the rim of the dish are the 15 states rendered as if they are printed on fabric. For example, due to "folds" Maryland looks like "Maland" and Rhode Island looks like "RhoIsland." I know that Kentucky, the 15th state, was admitted in 1792. However, due to the foliage and clothing, I think it's early 19th century at the earliest.
OK, we're almost there. The long sides, underneath the lip of the dish, show the house featured on the center of the obverse, flanked by the allegorical figures as well as flowers and what look like peaches. The underside/reverse shows swirls in an oval pattern with the circular mark reading "Branded Staffordshire Cl" with the rest of the lettering lost. There is a crown within the circular lettering.
So it APPEARS to be a Staffordshire deep blue commemorative dish. I'd say it's around 1825, but it could be later.
Can you provide a value and affirmation of the date?
