18th Century Caughley Fisherman & Cormorant Pattern Plate, c. 1785

18th century Caughley plate with gentle sloping sides, decorated with the transfer printed blue and white ‘Pleasure Boat‘ or ‘Fisherman and Cormorant‘ pattern. The base is marked Sx. Circa 1785.

Plate is in very good condition with no chips or cracks.

The Caughley or ‘Salopian China Manufactory‘ was according to contemporary newspapers in production by 1775. The founder was Thomas Turner, who had trained as an engraver at the Worcester Porcelain Company. He was joined by Robert Hancock, then the most celebrated engraver for porcelain. From the beginning, production concentrated on transfer printed wares in the Chinese style. The company was a major force in the porcelain industry of the late 1700s. See Geoffrey Godden‘s Guide to English Porcelain for a favourable comparison of Caughley to Worcester in the period post 1775.