Soup plate

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This blue 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 'CELEBES' and was registered in 1890.

The centre shows an elongated quatrefoil containing a dragon. The border pattern consists of scallop shells and swags of fringing, interrupted by two lyre motifs and two circles.

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: 000-100-104-002-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEK 782
• Date: Around 1890
  c. 1890
  
• Material: Earthenware. Inscription: CELEBES / J & MPB & Co LD / TRADE MARK / Rd No 158409 / B
  Plate, soup
  
• Dimensions: 250 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 pattern showing an elongated quatrefoil containing a dragon, by J. and M.P. Bell and Co. Ltd of Glasgow, for export to south-east Asia, c. 1890
  
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