Victoria Pottery Company Majolica Oyster Plate

Victorian

Circa 1882–1889 | England

An exceedingly rare piece of antique nineteenth century majolica by the short-lived firm the Victoria Pottery Company (see The Gen). This marked example of an oyster plate with exceptional moulding and majolica glazes with six brown oyster shaped wells around a turquoise central well, all on a green seaweed and shell background. The plate is as decorative on the underside with finely mottled brown, green and turquoise glaze, just beautiful. One for the collectors!

DIMENSIONS: Diameter 24 cm.

SIGNATURES, MARKINGS & INSCRIPTIONS: Impressed mark of the Victoria Pottery Company mark: VPC within a triangle shape with two swords to the left and right and an additional unknown mark of a capitalised I.

CONDITION: The plate is in excellent condition with wear consistent with antique age and use; there is some light crazing mostly in the centre well and an old slight chip to a conch shell. There is no evident restoration.

REFERENCES: For an example of a similar plate see the Majolica International Society. 

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THE GEN

The Victoria Pottery Company was established by partners James Robinson, Edward James Leadbeater & Robert Leason in Stoke-on-Trent in 1882. The following year Robert Leason left the business and notice of the departure was published in the London Gazette on 6 November 1883. Robinson and Leadbeater continued the business for a further six years.

In Jewitt’s Ceramic Art of Britain 1800–1900 Jewitt states “The works of this company, in Lonsdale Street, were established in 1882 by Messrs. Robinson, Leadbeater & Leason for the manufacture of the higher classes of majolica and ivory or cream-coloured earthenware. In these, they produced all the usual varieties of useful and ornamental goods; the dessert services, game-pie dishes and other articles were of more than average excellence. The firm was of a very short duration.” (Jewitt’s Ceramic Art of Britain 1800–1900, Geoffrey A. Godden, Arco Publishing Company, 1972, p. 136)

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