This is a rare Swansea porcelain plate made around 1817. 

Some of the Swansea china was sold "in the white" to be decorated in London for clients with decoration which was the height of fashion, while other pieces were decorated at the Swansea factory either with a "set pattern"  which was a pattern they would have had in their pattern book or with something bespoke for a particular client.

Of all these options the last is probably the most rare and interesting, porcelain decorated within the factory but not with a set pattern.  

Such pieces are rare and unusual.  This little side plate is just such a piece.  Maybe not as flamboyant and colourful as some of the bright flower painting but in its own way wonderful.

It seems with this service the concept was to take small cuttings of leaves and then do life like "portraits" copied from real leaves so that each one is very specific and unique.

I think this is a lovely concept. Also instead of flowers just leaves were used.  I would love to see a cup and saucer from this service and other pieces from the service but so far i have only seen the monochrome illustrations in W. D. John and the example here for sale.

This is a side plate so just a mm under 20cm and yes the enamels have a little wear, which shows it was loved and used.  

For a collector of Swansea porcelain I think this is a "must have".

Impressed SWANSEA mark with single trident placed horizonally underneath.  This mark is in Jones and Joseph page 236 mark 48

Illustrated in W. D. John  SWANSEA PORCELAIN monochrome illustration 86c.  "PAIR OF SWANSEA PLATES WITH UNUSUAL LEAF DECORATION" Dr J. A. Noot collection.


Makers marks:
Impressed "SWANSEA" and trident

Dimenstions:
199 mm diameter

Weight:
279 g

Age:
205 years

Condition:
Good, no chips cracks or restoration. Some wear to the glaze, the gilding and the enamels.

Maker:
Swansea