Lambeth London Delftware Polychrome Chinoiserie Plates Decorated With Parrots

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The Exotic Perch: Lambeth Polychrome Delftware Parrot Plates
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This is a beautiful and well-documented pair of English Delftware Plates … Read more The Exotic Perch: Lambeth Polychrome Delftware Parrot Plates
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This is a beautiful and well-documented pair of English Delftware Plates decorated in a vivid Polychrome Chinoiserie pattern. Produced in London during the mid-18th century, these plates are examples of the highest quality British tin-glazed earthenware.

• Central Subject: The inner well of each plate is painted with a vibrant, asymmetric scene featuring a long-tailed parrot perched atop an angular rockwork outcrop surrounded by lush foliage and large, stylized flowers, such as peonies. The scene is executed in a vivid palette of iron-red, yellow, blue, and green.
• Border: The rim features a bold, repeating motif composed of three symmetrical groupings of leaves, stylized flowers, and a distinct element that resembles a pine cone or a complex husk design.
• Attribution: This specific pattern has been confidently attributed by scholars to the Lambeth High Street pottery in London, likely operating under the ownership of Abigail Griffith during this period.

• Origin: Lambeth, London, England
• Date: circa 1765 (Mid-18th Century)
• Style: Chinoiserie / Polychrome Delftware
• Attribution: Lambeth High Street Pottery (e.g., Abigail Griffith workshop)
• Material: Tin-Glazed Earthenware (Delftware)
• Dimensions: 9 inches Diameter x 3/4 inch High

Historical Context: London's Delftware Factories
These plates are a vital link in the history of English ceramics, showcasing how British potters successfully competed with Dutch and Chinese imports in the 18th century.

London's Delftware Hub
While Delftware is synonymous with the Netherlands, potteries in London (especially in Lambeth and Bristol) were major producers of this tin-glazed earthenware. The "tin glaze" creates the characteristic opaque white background, which provided an affordable alternative to the costly white body of true porcelain.

Chinoiserie and Exotic Subjects
The parrot on rockwork motif is a classic example of Chinoiserie, directly inspired by popular designs found on Chinese porcelain imported by the East India Company. Exotic bird subjects were highly fashionable, symbolizing wealth and global commerce in 18th-century homes. The bold polychrome (multi-color) decoration distinguishes this set from the more common blue-and-white wares.

Scholarly Documentation
The pattern is well-documented in academic literature, a rarity for often-unmarked Delftware. References confirm the pattern is discussed in:

• British Delft at Williamsburg by John Austin (Plate 323).
• London Delftware by Frank Britton (Plate 155), where he specifically attributes the design to the Lambeth High Street pottery around this period.

References
• Austin, John C. British Delft at Williamsburg. Williamsburg, VA: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, 1994. (Plate 323, Page 178).
• Britton, Frank. London Delftware. London: Jonathan Horne Publications, 1987. (Plate 155, Page 159).
• Archer, Michael. Delftware: The Tin-Glazed Earthenware of the British Isles. London: V&A Publications, 1197. (General reference on the Lambeth potteries and polychrome patterns).

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