Antique English Imari Ironstone Plate Hand Painted c. 1820–1830

An antique English ironstone or stone china plate, dating to the early 19th century, approximately 1820–1840, and extensively hand decorated in the Imari palette.

The plate features a central vase filled with stylized flowers and foliage, surrounded by further flowering branches. The broad border is densely decorated with additional flowers and leaves. The decoration combines cobalt blue and iron red with extensive gilt detailing on a white ground. Fine iron-red linework fills much of the remaining space.

The plate has a scalloped edge and a relatively deep profile, measuring approximately 1" high at the rim.

This type of richly decorated Imari-style stone china was produced by a number of English manufacturers during the early 19th century, including Mason's and Hicks, Meigh & Johnson, among others. The plate is not marked with a manufacturer's name, and I have not been able to document the pattern sufficiently to attribute it to a particular factory.

The underside bears a small underglaze blue tally or workman's mark.

Condition: There is an impact hairline, clearly visible on the underside and extending through to the front of the plate. It is much less noticeable from the front because it is largely obscured by the dense decoration. There is age-related wear to the edge of the rim, normal for a plate of this age. No restoration noted. Please refer to the photographs for condition.

Measurements: 9 1/2" (24.1 cm) diameter × approximately 1" (2.5 cm) high at the edge.

Date: c. 1820–1840
Origin: England
Material: Ironstone / stone china
Decoration: Hand painted cobalt blue, iron red and gilt
Maker: Unidentified