Antique Rare Royal Cauldon "Ridgewood" Sportsman Pattern Plates - Set of 6

Details

Description

Beautifully preserved antique Royal Cauldon "Ridgewood" plate featuring a classic pattern, "The Sportsman" scene — with two hunters, their dogs, … Read more Beautifully preserved antique Royal Cauldon "Ridgewood" plate featuring a classic pattern, "The Sportsman" scene — with two hunters, their dogs, and a dramatic rugged landscape.

✦ Details ✦
Maker: Royal Cauldon, England — Est. 1774
Scene: Ridgewood "The Sportsman"
Condition: Excellent — no chips or cracks

✦ Why Royal Cauldon ✦
One of England's oldest pottery names, established in 1774 — this piece has serious heritage. Royal Cauldon was the direct descendant of the legendary Ridgway family potteries, so there's a wonderful full-circle story here — Ridgway pottery living on under a royal name.

✦ The Sportsman Scene ✦
Hunting scenes were the ultimate status symbol on Victorian and Edwardian dining tables — a nod to aristocratic country life, estates, and weekend shoots. This plate captures that world beautifully.
Perfect for a collector, a study or library display, or anyone who loves a great piece of English countryside history.

✦ Royal Cauldon drama ✦
The founding Ridgway grandfather, Ralph, was described in his own son's memoir as "dissipated and thoughtless" — he built a business and promptly ran it into the ground. The sons learned from his mistakes and built one of England's greatest dynasties.

Next generation: brother John became Royal Potter to Queen Victoria.

Brother William went bankrupt — twice — and had to be bailed out by John.

Classic siblings with a final twist — the man who eventually took over the Cauldon built it into a pottery empire, then eventually went bankrupt himself in the Great Depression.

This little plate has survived family feuds, bankruptcies, a royal appointment and a Depression. Not bad for a piece of pottery. See less