Soup plate

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This brown transfer-printed earthenware soup plate was made for export to South East Asia, by the Glasgow potters, J. & M.P. Bell & Co. Ltd. The design was registered in 1887.

The pattern is called 'PEACOCK & LILIES'. The centre shows lilies, a butterfly and a stylized peacock. The border pattern consists of four sections of diaper pattern between alternating scenes of a vase of flowers and butterflies.

Bells started exporting by the 1860s. Their trade with South East Asia was particularly important. After John Bell's death in 1880, the company continued with this trade, producing a remarkable range of specially designed transfer-printed oriental patterns for the area.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-103-939-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEK 691
• Date: Around 1887
  c. 1887
  
• Material: Earthenware. Inscription: J & M P B & Co Ld / TRADE MARK / PEACOCK & LILIES / Rd No 83486/ B
  Plate, soup
  
• Dimensions: 245 mm
  
• What: Plate, soup
  
• Subject: Post-medieval pottery and porcelain (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: J. and M.P. Bell and Co. Ltd, Glasgow (Maker)
  
• Where: Scotland, Lanarkshire, Glasgow
  
• Event:
• Description: Earthenware soup plate with a centre design of lilies, a butterfly and a stylized peacock, by J. and M.P. Bell and Co. Ltd of Glasgow, for export to south-east Asia, c. 1887
  
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