Antique Davenport Gaudy Dutch Floral Plate c.1810, 24cm

This striking antique plate is an early 19th‑century Davenport example in the vibrant “Gaudy Dutch” palette, dating approximately to 1805–1820. Measuring about 24 cm in diameter, it displays the exuberant hand‑painted decoration and charming imperfections that collectors associate with this short‑lived but highly desirable style of English pottery.

The face of the plate is richly decorated with a bold asymmetrical floral spray, dominated by large cobalt blue flowers reserved with fine gilt lines, surrounded by smaller blossoms in iron‑red, orange, yellow and rose, all interwoven with green foliage. The enamels are laid on thickly in typical Gaudy Dutch fashion, giving a slightly raised and tactile surface. The design is freely painted rather than transfer printed, allowing you to see the individual brushstrokes and small variations that signal early hand production.

The ground is a warm off‑white typical of early earthenware bodies, with scattered iron specks and slight unevenness to the glaze. Around the cavetto and rim, smaller buds, tendrils and scrolling lines fill the surface, creating a dense, almost naïve pattern that reads beautifully from across a room. The vibrant cobalt and iron‑red, key colours in Gaudy Dutch decoration, remain strong despite the piece’s age and use.

The reverse reveals much of the plate’s history of use and survival. There is pronounced age‑related crazing across the glaze, forming a network of fine stained lines in the well and on the back. Several substantial cracks have been stabilised using traditional metal staple (or “riveted”) restoration, visible at three points around the rim. These old repairs are period in character and are now collected in their own right, as they testify to the value once placed on the object by its owners and add considerable social and decorative interest. The rim also shows minor fritting, small nicks and wear consistent with two centuries of handling and display.

The profile and foot treatment are in keeping with early Davenport production, with a shallow well and gently everted rim, supported by a narrow foot ring to the underside. While the back is unmarked, this is entirely typical of the factory’s earliest wares in the first decades of the 19th century, particularly for everyday table and decorative pieces. The present example sits comfortably within known Davenport Gaudy Dutch groups produced to satisfy the contemporary fashion for colourful, loosely Oriental floral designs.

This plate is best suited now as a decorative collector’s piece rather than for food use. It displays exceptionally well on a wall hanger, in a dresser rack or cabinet, where the bold palette and patina of age can be appreciated. The combination of early date, scarce Gaudy Dutch patterning, period staple repairs and completely hand‑painted decoration make it a characterful addition to any collection of Davenport, early English ceramics, or Gaudy Dutch/Imari‑influenced wares.

Please note: condition is commensurate with age. There are multiple hairline cracks, overall crazing, old staple repairs around the rim, scattered enamel wear and small rim chips. These factors are reflected in the description and should be considered part of the plate’s antique charm and authenticity.