Very unusual early 19th century English ironstone dish decorated with a blue dragon surrounded by butterflies and flowers. Red nine-character pseudo Chinese mark to the base. This pattern and mark combination is often found on clobbered Chinese export porcelain. According to the Mason’s Collectors’ Club, this particular example doesn’t match any known pattern but might be a completely unique piece created by Mason’s as a replacement for damaged piece from a Chinese export set. A truly unique piece of history!
Dish is in good antique condition with two hairlines extending from the rim. Typical ironstone crazing which is quite faint and hard to capture in the photos. There are some fingerprints visible on the reverse where the dish was handled before being fired.
Diameter: 25.5 cm / 10 inches
Origin: Staffordshire, England
Date of production: c. 1820
Material: ironstone pottery
