Antique Blue Transfer Ironstone "Sydney" Pattern Tree in the Well Meat Platter, Circa 1850

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Antique Blue Transfer Ironstone "Sydney" Pattern Tree in the Well Meat Platter, Circa 1850

A commanding and impressively scaled example … Read more Antique Blue Transfer Ironstone "Sydney" Pattern Tree in the Well Meat Platter, Circa 1850

A commanding and impressively scaled example of mid-19th century English blue transfer ironstone, this magnificent "Sydney" pattern tree in the well meat platter is a piece of genuine presence and historical significance — a grand Victorian dining table centerpiece that combines the robust, weighty substance of ironstone with the atmospheric beauty of blue transfer decoration in a form that represents the very height of Victorian domestic ceramic ambition.
At 22 inches wide and 17½ inches deep this is an exceptionally large and room-commanding platter — one of the most generously proportioned tree in the well meat platters that could be found — and the "Sydney" pattern decoration covers its broad surface with the rich, detailed blue transfer imagery that collectors of English transferware find so immediately compelling and visually satisfying. The Sydney pattern — a romantic and picturesque design featuring the characteristic landscapes and botanical elements beloved of mid-Victorian ceramic decorators — is rendered in the deep, rich cobalt blue transfer that defines the best English blue and white ironstone production of the 1840s and 1850s, its atmospheric quality lending the platter an almost painterly visual depth and richness.
The tree in the well form is executed with the confident, well-proportioned craftsmanship of a maker thoroughly experienced in producing large format serving pieces for the Victorian table — the raised ridges of the well channeling meat juices with practical Victorian efficiency while the broad decorated border and generous well surface display the Sydney pattern to maximum visual effect. At 3 inches tall this is a substantially and impressively deep form with considerable three dimensional presence that commands attention whether in use on a dining table, displayed on a dresser, or hung as a decorative object on a wall.
Ironstone of this period and scale was built to last — and this platter has done exactly that, surviving more than 170 years in remarkable structural integrity with no chips or cracks of any kind. Staining throughout and honest wear and use marks are entirely consistent with the platter's long and well-used domestic life and add to rather than detract from its authentic Victorian character and appeal.
A truly impressive piece of mid-Victorian English blue transfer ironstone at an honest and confident price point.
Dimensions: 22"W × 17.5"D × 3"H
Type: Blue transfer ironstone tree in the well meat platter
Pattern: Sydney
Origin: England, Circa 1850
Condition: No chips or cracks; staining throughout; wear and use marks consistent with age See less