Penrose Antiques

Description

We have for sale a very striking William Billingsley decorated pattern 100 dessert plate c1790.

This fine Derby dessert is finely decorated in pattern 100 by William Billingsley with a beautifully painted central bouquet of flowers within a gilded a Smith blue border.However, this particular plate is almost unique. There is a small firing flaw visible at about the 5 O'clock position in the first photograph and in close-up in the third photograph, but the plate was obviously too good to waste, so Billingsley painted an extra small flower to mask that flaw. We believe this one little addition makes this particular plate feel a bit special. The base of the plate carries the puce Duesbury mark along with the pattern number 100.

Pieces of 18th Century Derby in this pattern are often described as originating from the Rothschild service, a large dinner service in this pattern that was sold by the Rothschild family via a London auction house - see “Derby Porcelain” by John Twitchett.

The plate is 81⁄2 inches (21.5 cm) in diameter and is in a very good condition with no chips cracks or repairs but there is some wear to the gilding around the rim.

This Derby Dessert plate is currently being exhibited as part of the selling exhibition of rare Derby, Pinxton, Nantgarw and Swansea porcelain "A journey with William Billingsley" 2016, ISBN: 9783741809903