{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1810114"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1810114/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1810114","accessionNumber":"C.131-2025","objectType":"Plate","titles":[{"title":"Plate","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This plate is an outstanding example of porcelain painting executed in Britain in the opening decade of the nineteenth century. The hard-paste porcelain plate was manufactured by Coalport in Shropshire, but decorated in an independent porcelain painter’s studio, almost certainly in London. The elaborate ‘trompe l’oeil’ – or ‘trick of the eye’ – decoration includes letters, playing cards, banknotes and trade cards, as well as two dice and a number of coins dated 1786. The painted decoration represents the types of everyday objects that may have been carried around by the early-nineteenth-century urban gentleman, rendered with brilliant realism.\r\n\r\nDecoration of ceramics as an independent practice, known as ‘outside’ decoration, flourished in Europe from the second half of the seventeenth century. In England, it arguably reached its peak from 1795 to 1820, when many independent studios, primarily in London, employed painters who could produce sophisticated compositions onto ceramic or metal surfaces. Advances in science and technology allowed for the production and use of an expanded range of enamel colours, and the artistry of the decorator was furthered through the rise of formal art education in the eighteenth century, with many training at the Royal Academy.\r\n\r\nAmongst the ephemera, the plate displays a trade card with the name ‘J & W Mortlock’. Mortlock's were one of London’s largest and most prestigious retailers of ceramic and glass products from the mid-eighteenth century until the 1930s. The opening decades of the nineteenth century were a successful period for Mortlock’s, when they controlled much of the flow of products from regional ceramic factories into the capital and it has been suggested this plate may be a bespoke commission from them or a speculative ‘sample’ from a porcelain painter seeking Mortlock’s' patronage. The existence of three other plates, clearly by the same decorator, and also featuring the name of prominent London 'china' retailers and dated to around the same time as this one, may indicate the latter.","physicalDescription":"Plate of hard-paste porcelain with lobed edge, painted in enamel colours, gold and silver lustre with a trompe l'oeil design featuring a ten pound bank note, playing card, a ticket for a Benefit, a letter with largely indistinguishable script, various trade cards including one for 'J. & W. Mortlock's', a watercolour landscape, a quill, purse and coins, with a gilt rim","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Coalport Porcelain Factory","id":"A9072"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Mortlock","id":"A30796"},"association":{"text":"retailers","id":"AAT25246"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"porcelain","id":"AAT10662"}],"techniques":[{"text":"lustre","id":"x29344"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[{"text":"Ceramics","id":"THES48982"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"CER","id":"THES48594"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES387737"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Plate","id":"AAT11041"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"decorated","id":"AAT56257"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Shropshire","id":"x29141"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"c.1805-10","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1810-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"c.1808","earliest":"1803-01-01","latest":"1812-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"24","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"From the collection of Elliot Stirling","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Plate of hard-paste porcelain, decorated with a trompe l'oeil design in enamel colours, made by the Coalport porcelain factory, probably decorated in London, about 1805-10 (probably 1808)","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Though the identity of the decorator is so far unknown there are a number of other plates related to this one which are evidently by the same hand. A plate in National Museum Cardiff shows a trade card for the Red Lion Street warehouse and cut glass manufactory of John Davis, and prominently includes the date 1809 (NMW A 33206). A further plate last recorded with Mercury Antiques and shown as part of their exhibition 'Recent Acquisitions of English Ceramics c.1700-1835' between 9-20 October 1990, illustrates a bill made out by the china retailer Sharpus. It also shows an envelope stamped with the date '1808' and another piece of paper bears the date '1809'. A fourth plate was sold at Phillips, London, 2 & 3 December 1992, lot 354 and is reproduced in the catalogue. This plate includes a painted bill for the glass makers and glass and ceramic retailers Pellatt & Green, as well as an engraving showing the 'Falcon Glass House'. Pellatt & Green was established in 1803 through the partnership of Apsley Pellatt and James Green, but by 1809 they had opened a showroom at No.16 St. Paul's Church Yard, London. A now well known view of the interior of this showroom was published in Ackermann's 'Repository of the Arts' in part 5, vol.1, 1809.","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["C.131-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"131","accessionNumberPrefix":"C","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-15","recordCreationDate":"2025-09-26","availableToBook":true}}