A rare and possibly unique Ridgway Royal Porcelain plate c.1850

A rare and possibly unique Ridgway Royal Porcelain plate c.1850. The central reserve very finely decorated with a bouquet of flowers, the border decorated with a deep cobalt blue ground and finely tooled paste gilding with the Royal Crown within a Garter Star to the top of the plate. Possibly made for the Great Exhibition of 1851. 

For further information see http://ridgwaypatternbook.org.uk/cauldon.html#jr where it is noted that ''this extraordinary plate is something of a mystery. The first thought was it was an escapee from a royal service, but no such service exists in the Royal Collection. A notice to the effect that John Ridgway had been 'appointed Potter to the Queen' appeared in the Staffordshire Gazette and County Standard of 5 October 1839 and this plate may have been made as an exhibition piece to celebrate the fact, or as a sample made in the hope of gaining further royal orders. The decoration would fit the period of the announcement. After 1840 the issue of Royal Warrants was tightened up, and they were only granted to those supplying consistently over several years. After that permission was required to use the Royal Arms as a back stamp and was only granted to Warrant holders under the new system.''

Condition: Some light wear to the surface and gilding around the rim