SALE Exotic Antique PB & S (Powell, Bishop & Stonier) Paragon Display Plate, 1880

Pottery : England : Powell, Bishop & Stonier

 

Bold graphics, vibrant colors, and an exotic design combine to make this a very appealing display item. The pinkish-lilac background has a luminous quality and is a wonderful field for the unusual design elements - a monkey planter with a palm plant growing out of it, two palm leaf fans with trailing leaves & flowers, and a dramatic, diagonal band composed of turquoise and dull green-gold stripes with fancy disks. The image of the planter is a high quality transfer, with very complex details typical of a fine engraving - the three-dimensional, almost sepia-toned, photo-like appearance is striking. The central panel of the planter shows a monkey-faced, hyena-like animal crouching amidst flowering bushes. An interesting attention to design detail is the similarity between the stylized floral disks on the turquoise band across the plate and the shapes of flowers on the planter. The exotic oriental imagery of the plate, so popular in Victorian England, typifies the feeling of a far-flung empire on which the sun never set....

This plate has the Paragon stamp of the PB & S. company (Powell, Bishop and Stonier) and the number 8999s painted in black on the back. The registry stamp indicates a manufacturing date of Dec. 6, 1880.

Formerly the company was operated by Powell and Bishop from 1865-78 out of two potteries at Hanley, England. During 1978-91, they were joined by Stonier, a china dealer in Liverpool whose company (400 employees) outfitted ocean liners of the day, including the Titanic. The firm was especially known for its quality, ironstone-type granite ware ('white granite') which was heavily exported to the U.S. They developed a printing process of gold and colors which had a dull, 'antique'-gold appearance. Noteworthy are their Japanese- and general Oriental-inspired designs and use of unusual colors, such as lilac, as seen on this plate. The partnership continued without Stonier until 1931, when George Jones & Sons bought the company. For more information on this pottery and others from the Stoke-on-Trent potteries, please see my "Favorites Links" on my home page.

This 9 1/4" plate is in good condition. There is some minor fading and loss of paint on the leaves and on the banner near the fans, some light utensil scratches, and a small underside rim chip (1/3") (please see photos). Still an unusual and wonderful display item...Thanks for stopping by!

Item ID: RL1037

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