These beautiful octagonal plates, transfer printed in cranberry, are part of the Sutherland Collection, made in England by Spode from 1987 to 2006. The scenes on the six plates were hand engraved on copper plates taken from Spode's pattern archives dating from 1784. The outer rims of each are rippled and have cranberry beading on the inner edges. The plates measure 9 1/2 inches across and each one weighs a bit over 1 pound. They are all in extremely fine, like-new condition and look great on the wall, table or shelf.
Some history on the plates (Titles are on the undersides as part of the mark on each):
***Two of the plates are titled "Caramanian," referring to Caramania, the ancient name for an area on the coast of Turkey. The scene shows boats in a harbor in front of The Cemetery of Caccamo in Caramania. Spode's Caramanian series, first produced c. 1809, features views from a titled "Egypt, Palestine and the Ottoman Empire," published in 1803. The fascinating border figures, which include an assortment of animals, people, palms, etc., come from illustrations by Samuel Howitt in "Oriental Field Sports," published in 1807.
***Two of the plates are titled "Lucano" and depict the Roman stone bridge of Lucano in Rome, Italy, with grazing cows in the foreground and ruins in the background. This view was based on the 1798 aquatint by French engraver James Merigot in "A Select Collection of Views and Ruins in Rome and Its Vicinity - Executed from Drawings Made Upon the Spot in the Year 1791." The Spode pattern was introduced c. 1819.
***A single plate with the title "Floral" is part of the series of the same name, introduced in 1830. The plate has a border of alternating natural flowers and stylistic floral medallions surrounding a central flower on the well with buds, berries and foliage.
***Another single plate with the title "Girl at Well," first introduced c. 1822, shows a maiden drawing water into her pitcher at the well, with buildings in the background. She's surrounded by trees and flowers, with a border featuring floral sprays.
FF 5425
