12 Royal Doulton “Shakespeare’s Country” Cabinet Plates by J. Hughs C. 1902-22

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Set of Twelve Royal Doulton “Shakespeare’s Country” Artist-Signed Scenic Plates by J. Hughs, for Ovington Bros., New York, Circa 1902–1922

… Read more Set of Twelve Royal Doulton “Shakespeare’s Country” Artist-Signed Scenic Plates by J. Hughs, for Ovington Bros., New York, Circa 1902–1922

A rare and complete set of twelve hand-painted cabinet plates by Royal Doulton, produced between 1902 and 1922, each executed in finely detailed enamel and individually signed by the artist J. Hughs, one of the factory’s most accomplished landscape decorators. Commissioned for and retailed by Ovington Bros., New York, this series belongs to the celebrated “Shakespeare’s Country” theme, depicting landmarks and literary sites associated with William Shakespeare and the pastoral beauty of Warwickshire.

Each plate is masterfully painted with a distinct English scene—castles, chapels, cottages, bridges, and village landscapes—capturing the romantic vision of early 20th-century England. The painterly approach, with soft-focus skies and layered perspective, reflects the Edwardian taste for sentimental and historicist views, executed here with remarkable skill. The scalloped rims are enriched with elegant raised gilt scrollwork, adding a regal finish to each composition.

Titles include:

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

Mary Arden’s Cottage

Guy’s Cliffe Mill

Kenilworth Castle

Warwick Castle

Charlecote Hall

Ragley Hall

Trinity Church

Shakespeare’s Birthplace

Shottery Cottage

Stratford-on-Avon

Guy’s Tower, Warwick Castle

Each verso is printed in puce with the Royal Doulton lion-and-crown mark, along with the scene title, and the Ovington Bros. New York retailer’s mark. The artist’s signature, J. Hughs, is visible in the foreground of each plate’s image. Hughs was active at Royal Doulton during the Edwardian and early interwar years, known for his architectural renderings and countryside vistas—often with literary or historical ties.

These plates are prized not only for their technical quality and artistry but also for their thematic cohesion and the association with America’s most prestigious porcelain retailer of the era. Royal Doulton’s collaboration with Ovington Bros. was marked by exclusivity, refinement, and a keen alignment with the Anglophile tastes of Gilded Age and early 20th-century American collectors. See less