{HISTORY}

Every once in a while, an antique dish will come to the shop that is so perfectly and authentically weathered, you can practically see a century's worth of history wrapped up in every beautiful imperfection.

Some antique collectors prefer pristine artifacts and almost brand-new appearances. Not us, though. Here In The Vintage Kitchen, we absolutely adore antiques that exude the character of time. Containing an exquisite, unmatched vulnerability, we love the type of heirlooms that have experienced some adventures in their life and tell of those times in visible age-old cracks, chips, spots, and staining. For it is those authentic elements that can never be replicated in a modern-day way. It takes literally hundreds of years to build up such character. 

This antique dish, possibly a sugar bowl or an individual tureen, has clearly been a beloved heirloom throughout its long life. Containing over a dozen cracks, a significantly chipped handle, and tea-colored staining, this server could have easily been tossed out at the appearance of its first crack. But it wasn't. By the time the fourth or fifth crack came about, this dish might have been rendered unusable for its intended purpose as a serving piece, but it was kept around regardless.  When half of one of its handles broke off, combined with all the other mounting number of maladies, this dish surely could have been tossed in the trash basket. But again it wasn't.  Why is that?

A survivor of a long journey, a keeper of memories, nostalgia, place, and time, this red transferware dish holds a lot of captivating possibilities inside its flawed frame. Perhaps it once sat in the dining room of a grand English country estate with rowdy occupants and wild parties. Maybe it was in service on a sea captain's ship, adventuring across oceans and cultures. Possibly it was a treasured family heirloom passed down through generations in steamer trunks, and luggage cases, and moving boxes as it made the big trip from one house to another, from one country to another, from one century to another.  Maybe it was part of a battalion of dishes that once belonged to someone famous, far back in history's recesses ... a steel magnate, a political figure, a cultural icon, a president... but lost its significant story somewhere along the way in exchange for more years of tender care, of loyal affection.  

Rare among red transferware patterns, it's impossible to 100% accurately date this piece, since it contains no backstamps or identifying marks other than what looks to be an impressed #20 on the bottom. After much research, over many weeks, we still can't find one exact match of this pattern or even this shape.  Its dots are similar to Royal Staffordshire's Tonquin pattern but not exact. It's architectural setting is similar to Samuel Alcock's 1830s Pearl Red pattern, but the buildings don't match. Its pedestal shape is somewhat similar to TJ & J Mayer's 1840s Canova Pink pattern, but the vignette is different. Its combination of scalloped rim and dotted edge is close to Seasons by Adam's China but the imagery in other parts of the pattern is different. The landscape scene is similar to Johnson Brothers Old English Castles, but it lacks many of the visual hallmarks like stylized trees and clouds that define that pattern. 

That makes this one quite an intriguing mystery. Handle shape, tree design, mountain shape, the castle buildings, and the way they are all situated in the landscape make this piece very distinct among other mid-19th-century dish patterns. And in such cases, where no exact replicas can be found, we are left to make some educated decisions.

We suspect that this little beauty was most likely made in England between the 1830s-1850s when red transferware patterns such as this were very popular.  Originally, we think this dish was accompanied by a matching lid, which would have been a traditional companion for either a sugar bowl or a tureen. Made of earthenware, it has a chunkier composition than porcelain or bone china. The glaze is shiny inside and out, and the transferware pattern is very detailed with delicate lines and subtle shadowing. 

A beautiful art piece on its own, it still holds functional charm too if you wanted to give it a bit of extra purpose. As long as a liner or a cup is tucked inside to preserve its integrity, it quickly turns into a vase or a planter.  It's also still very serviceable as a storage holder for all sorts of lightweight supplies, bar cart accessories, napkins, wine corks etc. The possibilities are as long and as varied as this dish's life.

We can't wait to hear about the new world you create for it.

{SPECIAL FEATURES}

• Rare pattern
• Scentic pattern includes images of castles, buildings, mountains, trees, bushes, and a lake. Other pattern details include dots, florals, and lace-like elements.
• Marked on the bottom with what looks to be an impressed number 20
• Colors include beige, cream, burgundy, and dark cranberry 

{CONDITION}

Please see notes above and photos for all condition issues. Despite the numerous cracks, this dish does not leak. 

{SIZE}

Measures 4.25" inches (height) x 7" inches (length) x 5.25" inches (width at widest part) and weighs 1.4 lbs