Soup plate

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This red and 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 'SEXAGON' and the plate dates from between 1881 and the 1920s.

The centre shows a 'honeycomb' of sexagons, each containing flower patterns. The border pattern consists of four panels containing varied scenes of banners, scrolls and exotic flowers alternating with panels of wicker pattern, all against a background of cross hatching. This border also appears on another soup plate made by Bells with the pattern name 'SINGAPORE'.

During the second half of the 19th century Bells developed a range of designs specially geared to the Eastern market. One of the design innovations used by them was the two-coloured printed pattern, where the central motif and border were of different colours, as in this example.

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• Online ID: 000-180-002-017-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland Part 2
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEK 670
• Date: 1850 - 1900
  Between 1881 and the 1920s
  
• Material: Earthenware. Inscription: J & M P B & Co Ld / TRADE MARK / GLASGOW / SEXAGON
  Plate, soup
  
• Dimensions: 240 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 of a honeycomb of sexagons containing flower patterns, by J. and M.P. Bell and Co. Ltd of Glasgow about 1850 - 1900 for export to south-east Asia
  
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