Pickard, Inc., the premier Chicago decorating studio was founded by Wilder A. Pickard, who was born on a farm near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. His first studio was located in Edgerton, Wisconsin, and soon was relocated to Chicago where it still exists today. The largest and most famous decorating Chicago studio, Pickard attracted the best of the best artists of the time.

Edward S. Challinor was probably the most notable of the Pickard Studio family of great artists. Edward was born in England in 1877 and began his apprenticeship in the family pottery at the age of seventeen. He married in 1899 and in 1903 left his wife and daughter to find employment in America. Joining Pickard in Chicago, his family soon joined him. He was not only a fine artist, but accomplished musician and a good actor. It is said he mixed his own colors, a secret he never shared with the other artists. He became a master of the china decorating medium, especially in his later pastel-colored scenics. His career spanned 1903 until his death in 1952. In 1926 he was promoted to the post of art director of the company.

This beautiful cake plate in the 'Lakeside Forest' scenic pattern is executed in a vellumn finish. It portrays a rural country scene of a quiet lake, trees casting shadows upon the water's surface in the background. The foreground features a huge leave laden tree on the right with vines climbing up it's long trunk, various other trees and park-like ground cover beneath. The color pallet is a combination of soft lavender, pink, tan, brown, gray, white and green hues. The border and handles are enhanced with gold.

The octagon shaped plate measures 10 5/8" across the handles and does not display the makers mark which is probably obscured by the Pickard Mark #7, circa 1912-1918, black decal stamp over a gold maple leaf. The piece is signed 'E Challinor' on the front. There are no cracks, chips, or repairs; the gold is bright and colors beautiful. A wonderful "Challinor' creation.