A wonderfully decorative early 19th-century Mason’s Patent Ironstone China plate, densely decorated in the rich cobalt blue, iron red and fresh green palette so characteristic of the factory’s chinoiserie wares.

The centre is filled with an exuberant garden scene, with flowering plants issuing from an ornamental vessel beside bamboo and a stylised rocky outcrop. Around it runs a particularly lovely floral border, following the softly shaped rim of the plate. The combination of deep underglaze blue and brightly coloured enamel decoration gives the piece that distinctive, jewel-like quality associated with early Mason’s ironstone.

The reverse bears the printed MASON’S / PATENT IRONSTONE / CHINA crown mark, together with an impressed MASON’S PATENT IRONSTONE CHINA mark.

Mason’s patented its ironstone body in 1813, producing a durable ceramic intended to capture some of the visual richness of imported Chinese porcelain. Pieces such as this became a staple of the early 19th-century English table, and today work beautifully displayed on a dresser or plate rack, or brought back to the table for a wonderfully layered Christmas setting.

There is something especially festive about this one: saturated colour, abundant flowers and all the charm of a plate that has already seen generations of tables laid around it.

Maker: Mason’s

Origin: England

Date: Circa 1820–1840

Material: Ironstone ceramic

Decoration: Transfer-printed and enamelled chinoiserie decoration

Marks: Printed Mason’s Patent Ironstone China crown mark and impressed factory mark

Condition: Good antique condition with age-related surface wear, light scratching, crazing and small firing/manufacturing imperfections commensurate with age. There is some wear to the enamel decoration, all contributing to the character of this early piece.