{"product_id":"18th-century-worcester-gilt-red-porcelain-serving-dish-27cm","title":"18th Century Worcester Gilt Red Porcelain Serving Dish 27cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis elegant antique serving dish is a fine example of late 18th-century English porcelain attributed to the Worcester factory, decorated in a bold palette of iron red, gilt and soft enamel colours. The dish is of shaped oblong outline with gently lobed sides and a flat, slightly recessed interior well, measuring approximately 27 cm in length as shown against the tape measure in the photographs. The creamy white porcelain body and neat, unglazed footrim to the underside are consistent with period Worcester production.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe surface is richly hand painted with a striking neoclassical border design. Around the cavetto runs a broad geometric band formed of alternating diamond panels and upright triangular motifs. The diamonds are picked out in matt and burnished gilding with fine crosshatching and white circular reserves, while the triangles are painted in iron red with simple linear detailing, giving a lively radiating effect towards the centre of the dish. Between the diamonds are small cartouches painted with stylised green flower heads highlighted in delicate pink and gilt. The whole border is framed by scattered white raised “jewel” dots and further touches of gilding, creating a luxurious yet distinctly Regency feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe central reserve is an elongated lozenge, left largely in the white and edged with a fine brown line. Within it sits a beautifully hand painted floral spray comprising yellow and lilac blossoms with soft green leaves, typical of Worcester’s late 18th-century enamel flower painting. The combination of formal geometric ornament and a naturalistic flower bouquet is very characteristic of the period, bridging rococo exuberance and early neoclassical restraint. All decoration is freehand rather than transfer printed, which enhances the desirability of the piece for collectors of early Worcester enamels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is described as good antique order, with no chips, cracks or restoration visible in the images. There is expected wear and surface scratching to the gilding and enamels, particularly on the high points of the border, consistent with age and genuine domestic use over more than two centuries. Some rubbing to the gilt rim and occasional minor kiln imperfections to the glaze can also be seen, which are normal for hand-made porcelain of this date. The underside is plain and unmarked, again typical of many Worcester utility wares from the late 1700s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt 27 cm in length, this is a practical serving size, likely intended originally as a small side or dessert dish for sweetmeats, fruit or relishes. Today it displays beautifully in a cabinet or on a dresser, where the vibrant red and gold palette catches the light to great effect. The combination of rarity, fully hand painted decoration, and attractive condition makes it a strong candidate for collectors of 18th-century Worcester and for those building a representative group of early English porcelain serving wares. It also works well as a single statement piece in a modern interior, adding a refined historical accent to a contemporary table setting or decorative scheme.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Moffitts Antiques","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53587222692124,"sku":null,"price":187.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0677\/4630\/0188\/files\/57_c423a4bc-a794-485d-880c-acda15357608.jpg?v=1767694867","url":"https:\/\/moffitts.co.uk\/products\/18th-century-worcester-gilt-red-porcelain-serving-dish-27cm","provider":"Moffitts Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}