Georgian Derby Partridge Pattern Imari Plate c.1815

This attractive early 19th‑century Derby porcelain plate presents the much‑collected “Partridge” pattern, a distinctive English interpretation of Japanese Imari style dating to around 1815, in the late Georgian period. Measuring approximately 20.5 cm (about 8 inches) in diameter, the plate is of thin, fine Derby porcelain with a shallow, dished well and everted rim, characteristic of table wares produced by the Nottingham Road factory in the first quarter of the nineteenth century.

The face of the plate is richly decorated in an iron‑red, cobalt blue and green palette with gilt highlights now partially softened through age and use. The central design shows a stylised tree rising from a rockwork base, its branches spreading across the entire surface and hung with dense clusters of red buds, echoing Japanese prunus and blossom motifs. Nestled among the branches and foliage is the familiar partridge figure, painted in warm iron‑red with blue and gilt detailing. Around the main composition, scattered flower heads, leaves and small red seed‑like devices fill the ground, creating a busy, decorative surface typical of Imari‑inspired Derby wares of this date.

The border runs seamlessly into the central decoration, with no strong dividing band, allowing the tree and floral sprays to flow naturally across the plate. A narrow gilt line encircles the rim, now showing honest wear in places from handling and stacking over two centuries. The enamels retain good depth of colour: the cobalt remains a rich, slightly inky blue, while the iron‑red is bright yet softened by age, confirming an early nineteenth‑century firing rather than a modern reproduction.

The reverse of the plate is unadorned apart from the factory mark, which appears in underglaze or enamelled red at the centre of the back. The mark shows a stylised crown above crossed branches or fronds and is consistent with the red “crowned derby” marks used at the Nottingham Road factory in the Regency period, helping to date the piece to circa 1810–1820. The footrim exhibits the expected kiln dust and minor grit typical of period Derby production, while the glaze on the underside has the slightly greyish, glassy surface associated with early 19th‑century English porcelain bodies.

Condition is generally good for an item of this age and type. The images indicate typical surface wear, light scratching to the enamel, minor rubbing and breaks to the gilding on the rim, and a few small firing specks or tiny glaze flaws, all consistent with period manufacture and everyday use rather than later damage. No major cracks or obvious structural restoration are apparent from the photographs, though prospective buyers should review the enlarged images closely to satisfy themselves as to condition. The plate rings with a reasonably clear note when lightly tapped, which is usually a positive indicator of structural soundness for antique porcelain, although this cannot replace an in‑hand inspection.

This Georgian Derby “Partridge” pattern plate represents an excellent example of Regency taste for Japanese‑inspired decoration, filtered through the refined modelling and enamelling for which the Derby factory is renowned. The strong Imari palette makes it an ideal display piece, whether hung on a wall or placed on a plate stand, and it also offers good potential for collectors building a reference group of early Derby patterns and marks. With its manageable 20.5 cm size, it can be easily combined in an arrangement with other Imari wares, Derby botanicals or broader Georgian porcelain collections, and it would also sit comfortably in a mixed decorative interior featuring Chinoiserie or Orientalist influences.