made in Glasgow
This green transfer-printed earthenware soup plate was made for export to South East Asia, by the Glasgow potters, J. & M.P. Bell & Co. Ltd. The pattern is called 'BORNEO' and was registered in 1890.
The centre shows a winged dragon and a bird against a background of stylized flowers. The border pattern consists of two winged dragons and two birds in scroll frameworks, with pineapple plants between.
Bells were exporting pottery in large quantities during the second half of the 19th century. They developed a range of designs specially geared to the Eastern market based on oriental motifs and subjects. The designs were often named using the local language.
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