{"product_id":"rare-pair-charles-meigh-chinese-landscape-soup-plates-c1835-1849-antique-staffordshire-blue-and-white-transferware","title":"Rare Pair Charles Meigh Chinese Landscape Soup Plates c1835–1849, Antique Staffordshire Blue and White Transferware","description":"ABOUT THIS PIECE\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn exceptionally decorative and scarce pair of early English soup plates made by Charles Meigh of Hanley, Staffordshire, circa 1835–1849.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe plates are decorated in Meigh’s recorded “Chinese Landscape” pattern, an elaborate blue-and-white transfer-printed design combining an imagined Eastern landscape with the romantic classical imagery so admired during the late Georgian and early Victorian periods.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the centre is a wonderfully detailed landscape featuring distant classical buildings, an ornamental urn overflowing with flowers and extravagant rococo scrollwork. The scene is surrounded by a particularly rich border of flower-filled urns, stylised foliage, scallop motifs and decorative architectural elements.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTheir deeply scalloped form is finished with a highly distinctive moulded white edge, giving the plates an unusually sculptural quality. This elaborate shape, together with the richly detailed transfer print, makes them particularly striking examples of early Staffordshire tableware.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth plates carry the original underglaze-blue floral cartouche reading “Chinese Landscape” on the reverse. This pattern is recorded as the work of Charles Meigh of Hanley and dates to the comparatively narrow period between approximately 1835 and 1849.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCharles Meigh was one of the most respected and inventive Staffordshire manufacturers of the 19th century. Today he is especially admired by collectors for his highly detailed moulded ceramics and ambitious decorative designs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFinding one surviving example of this early pattern is unusual; finding a matching pair of generously sized soup plates is considerably more difficult. At approaching 200 years old, they are important survivors from the great period of English transferware production.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTHE QUICK DETAILS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaker: Charles Meigh\u003cbr\u003ePattern: Chinese Landscape\u003cbr\u003eOrigin: Hanley, Staffordshire, England\u003cbr\u003eDate: Circa 1835–1849\u003cbr\u003eQuantity: Pair — two soup plates\u003cbr\u003eMaterial: Glazed stone china or earthenware\u003cbr\u003eDecoration: Underglaze cobalt-blue transfer print\u003cbr\u003eMark: Printed “Chinese Landscape” floral cartouche\u003cbr\u003eDiameter: Approximately 25 cm \/ 10 inches\u003cbr\u003eDepth: Approximately 4.5 cm \/ 1.75 inches\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDETAILS \u0026amp; CONDITION\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe plates are in very good decorative antique condition for examples approaching 200 years old.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBoth plates have small chips or nibbles confined to the underside foot rims. These losses are beneath the plates and cannot be seen when they are viewed or displayed from the front. They have been photographed clearly for complete transparency.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere is general light surface wear, fine crazing, scattered speckling, small glaze and firing irregularities and natural variation within the early transfer decoration, all entirely consistent with their age and method of manufacture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNo cracks or restoration have been identified.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe fronts display beautifully, retaining wonderfully clear cobalt-blue decoration and an exceptionally attractive softly aged appearance.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlease study all the photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA scarce and highly decorative pair for a serious collection of early Staffordshire pottery, Georgian and Victorian ceramics or antique blue-and-white transferware. They would also look magnificent displayed together on a dresser, mantelpiece or curated plate wall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDELIVERY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYour order will be carefully packed and dispatched within 48 hours.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInternational delivery is available to selected destinations. Please message me through Etsy or email [polly@frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk](mailto:polly@frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk) to request a delivery price for worldwide destinations not shown, or for combined and bulk orders.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eImport duties, taxes and customs charges are the responsibility of the buyer, except for orders to the USA where Etsy’s DDP system applies and the relevant charges are included in the US retail price.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMany genuine antiques more than 100 years old may qualify for reduced or zero import duty in certain countries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRETURNS\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReturns are accepted within 14 days of delivery. The buyer is responsible for return postage when an item is returned due to a change of mind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe item must be returned in the same condition in which it was received. If it is returned damaged, incomplete or altered, any loss in value may be deducted from the refund.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSOURCED BY POLLY\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery antique and vintage piece is individually sourced by me for its character, decorative appeal and connection to the past.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThese are genuine old pieces with histories of their own. Their marks, wear and imperfections are part of what makes them unique—and when they’re gone, they’re gone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCOME ANTIQUING WITH ME\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollow my real-life treasure-hunting adventures through French brocantes, flea markets, country houses and antiques fairs on YouTube:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ehttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@frenchgeneraltrading","brand":"French General Trading","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58635439145341,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0017\/7694\/3177\/files\/il_fullxfull.8475740042_3bbr.jpg?v=1788605616","url":"https:\/\/www.frenchgeneraltrading.co.uk\/products\/rare-pair-charles-meigh-chinese-landscape-soup-plates-c1835-1849-antique-staffordshire-blue-and-white-transferware","provider":"French General Trading","version":"1.0","type":"link"}