Plate, Dragons First

Item Number: P260
Item Shape:  Toy Plate
Pattern Name: Dragons First
Date: c. 1833-1847
Dimensions: D 4″
Maker: Copeland & Garrett
Maker’s Mark: Printed
Description:
A child’s or toy plate. It is printed in ultramarine blue underglaze on bone china. In the Chinese original design, half of the dragon was painted on the inside or upper surface and the other half on the side of the object.  Spode attempted to replicate the original design on cups and bowls but not on flatware where the dragon, or part of one, only appears on the front of the piece and, as a result, the head of the second dragon appears to be missing.  Provenance: A. Gresham Copeland Collection. Note the interesting hand written annotation on the Copeland label indicating where the item should be placed for viewing.
Condition: Good. One chip to the rim, still in tact.