Early Royal Crown Derby armorial Waller plate “Fructus Virtutis”

This elegant early Royal Crown Derby armorial plate is a fine example of late 18th to early 19th‑century English porcelain, decorated with the Waller family motto “FRUCTUS VIRTUTIS” around a stylised tree device. Measuring approximately 24 cm in diameter, the plate has a gently lobed, almost square‑shaped outline with rounded, wavy edges that create a refined frame for the decoration.

The centre of the plate carries a delicately hand‑painted armorial emblem. A finely stippled green tree with yellow fruit rises from a shaded, rope‑moulded base, the trunk partly wrapped with a pink ribbon bearing the Latin motto “FRUCTUS VIRTUTIS” (literally “the fruit of virtue”). The painting is executed with the crisp linear detail and careful shading associated with the best early Derby workshop practice, and the enamels retain an attractive depth of colour with only light, age‑appropriate surface wear visible on close inspection.

Encircling the cavetto is a continuous garland of pink garden roses interspersed with small star‑like blossoms and fresh green foliage. The individually painted petals of the roses, with deeper carmine centres and softer outer shading, are typical of Derby’s floral style at the turn of the 19th century. Between the flowers run fronds of stylised gilt fern leaves, creating a rich yet well‑balanced border. A narrow line of gilding follows the undulating rim, accentuating the plate’s shaped outline; in places this rim gilding shows minor rubbing, consistent with careful use over more than two centuries but not detracting from display.

The reverse is plain glazed white, with a small hand‑painted puce / iron‑red mark incorporating a crown and script initials. This informal painter’s mark, rather than a full printed factory backstamp, supports an earlier date of manufacture, aligning with the pre‑factory standardisation period of Royal Crown Derby production. Additional tiny workman’s or pattern numerals are also present, reflecting the individual nature of the decoration. There are no visible cracks or significant chips to the body; the glaze displays expected small pinholes, specks and minor firing anomalies from the original making, all of which are typical of authentic period Derby porcelain.

The plate’s combination of an armorial device with an elaborate floral border suggests that it was produced either as part of a special commission for the Waller family or for the broader market for fashionable armorial services inspired by prominent families and their mottos. Pieces of this type were often used as dessert or side plates in grand services, where heraldic devices asserted lineage and status while floral painting reflected the contemporary taste for naturalistic botany.

In the present example, condition is described as good, and the images confirm that the enamel colours remain fresh, the central arms are sharply defined, and the plate rings clearly when tapped, indicating soundness of the body. Only very light surface wear and a few small areas of rim rubbing are evident, entirely commensurate with its age and use. The 24 cm size makes it ideal for cabinet display, where the armorial centre can be clearly appreciated, or as a focal piece within a collection of early Royal Crown Derby or English armorial porcelain.

Overall, this is a desirable early Royal Crown Derby armorial plate, notable for its Waller family “Fructus Virtutis” emblem, its finely painted rose and gilt foliate border, and its well‑preserved condition. It would appeal to collectors of Derby porcelain, students of heraldic ceramics, and anyone seeking a distinctive period piece to enhance a Georgian or Regency decorative interior.