Ascot Antique Porcelain Platter

ASCOT PORCELAIN PLATTER
Antique Double Sections Porcelain Platter (Transfer Printing)

Double rampant Lions guarding the Crown with Ascot marking.
Made by either; Wood & Sons Ltd of Burslem - or - Ridgway of Hanley - both in Staffordshire, England.
This lovely platter has two (2) sections in one
A raised level (left-side) and a lower level (right-side)
Ideal to hold two (2) varieties of food, cakes, nuts, cheese, dips or whatever else you fancy to present/offer.

Total length: 23 cm
Width: 16 cm (wider section)
Width: 11 cm (narrow section)

FREE DELIVERY anywhere, worldwide
(considering the shipping logistic/cost of its volume/weight/secure packaging)

Earthenware manufacturer at Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent
Established in 1865 by Absalom Wood and his son Thomas Francis Wood - Thomas was the fifth generation in line to Moses Wood who was brother to Aaron and Ralph. Thomas, a prominent citizen in the potteries and later to become the Mayor of Burslem, built Wood and Sons into one of the largest companies in the area. In 1921 Harry F. Wood succeeded his father, Thomas F. Wood, as the chairman and under his leadership the company became a prolific and successful pottery manufacturer. The business became a public company in 1954 under the name Wood & Sons (Holdings) Ltd - although Wood and Sons Ltd continued as the main operating company. Just over half of the shares were owned by the family and a large proportion of the remaining shares were held by employees, so few shares were available for the general public. In the 1950's & 60's the company was employing 1,000 people.

Earthenware manufacturer at Ridgway of Hanley, Staffordshire
The Ridgway family was one of the important dynasties manufacturing Staffordshire pottery, with a large number of family members and business names, over a period from the 1790s to the late 20th century. In their heyday in the mid-19th century there were several different potteries run by different branches of the family. Most of their wares were earthenware, but often of very high quality, but stoneware and bone china were also made. Many earlier pieces were unmarked and identifying them is difficult or impossible. Typically for Staffordshire, the various businesses, initially set up as partnerships, changed their official names rather frequently, and often used different trading names, so there are a variety of names that can be found.

About Transfer Printing -  is a way of reproducing two-dimensional designs on ceramics. At its best it results in high-quality decoration at a low cost per unit. The design is printed onto a sheet of tissue paper or a thin pliable layer of gelatin (animal glue), and then transferred onto the surface of the ware.

The technique was in use at Birmingham in 1751, though it appears to have been practised at the Doccia factory near Florence in the previous decade. 18th-century transfers were made from both paper and pliable sheets of animal glue (or gelatin), but only paper transfers could be used for printing 'blue and white wares'. During the 19th century gelatin transfers were superseded by tissue paper. This type of work is best exemplified by the familiar Willow Pattern.