Plate 19th century

This 19th-century earthenware plate, created by J. and W. Ridgway in Cauldon, Stoke, is an example of transferware, a popular technique for decorating ceramics. The plate features a central image of a church surrounded by trees and figures, framed by a decorative border of floral motifs and putti. The use of transfer printing allowed for mass production of decorative plates, making them accessible to a wider audience during the Victorian era. This particular plate, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases the intricate details and charming scenes characteristic of 19th-century transferware.