made in Glasgow
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 'MAKASSAR' and was registered in 1890.
The centre shows a peacock above a grotesque lion. The border pattern consists of two stylized peacock motifs and two oriental monster masks, alternating between four large Chinese motifs.
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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