A beautiful antique Minton plate dating to 1879, decorated in a richly colored Victorian interpretation of Japanese Imari design. The plate features deep cobalt blue scrolling foliage and geometric borders accented with warm iron-red and orange flowers, delicate pale-blue details, and a fine gilt edge. A central stylized floral motif is repeated around the broad border, creating an exceptionally decorative composition. The reverse bears the impressed Minton factory mark together with “BB,” denoting Minton’s Best Body earthenware, as well as an impressed factory date cypher. Minton introduced impressed date codes during the 19th century, and the triangular cypher corresponds to 1879. Made during the height of Victorian enthusiasm for Japanese and Asian-inspired design, the plate is a wonderful example of the Anglo-Japanese aesthetic that became fashionable in Britain during the second half of the 19th century. The cobalt blue and warm rust-orange palette makes this especially striking as a cabinet plate, displayed on a wall, incorporated into an antique plate collection, or mixed with blue-and-white and Imari tableware.

Maker: Minton Origin: Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England Date: 1879

Material: Minton Best Body glazed earthenware

Style: Imari / Japan-inspired / Anglo-Japanese

Colors: Cobalt blue, iron red, orange, white and gilt Mark: Impressed Minton, BB and factory date cypher

Condition: Good antique decorative condition with overall age-related crazing, light surface wear, and some wear to the gilt rim. There is an approximately 1.5-inch / 3.8 cm hairline crack visible on the underside near the center of the plate. The hairline is shown clearly in the photographs and has been taken into account in the price. No large chips or losses noted. This is an authentic Victorian Minton piece rather than a later reproduction and would make a particularly attractive addition to an English ceramics, Imari, chinoiserie or antique plate collection.