Alfred Meakin ventured into the world of 'Seaside' themes in the 1950's, amongst the pattern names were Polperro, Clovelly, Nice, Fisherman's Cove and this pattern St Ives.
Often these patterns featured very similar artistic styles, bold and sassy colouring and a couple of seagulls flying overhead!
Featuring predominantly the lighthouse to the left, rowboat approaching the lighthouse and fishing vessel over to the right. St Ives is in Cornwall, an area of the English coastline littered with lighthouses but we just have never been so sure which lighthouse this is. For us, it is closest to the Godrevy lighthouse in shape and design, however that lighthouse is quite elevated off the ocean and lighthouse depicted just doesn't look "close enough" to the shapes of the two St Ive's lighthouses, old or "new" on the Smeaton Pier.
Here are a couple of photographs to illustrate what we mean about the designs and the lighthouse depicted on the plate(s)
Godrevy Lighthouse (similar shape
but quite elevated from the ocean)
"New" St Ives lighthouse
built early 1900
Original St Ives lighthouse
Smeaton Pier
Probably the answer is much simpler, it could be that the lighthouse depicted is just the result of "artistic licence"!
DLAT RATING (Darling, look at this!) 8/10
ALFRED MEAKIN - Table Plate(s)
Circa 1950's
Two different sized plates are offered here, you can purchase either size or both (the latter option does attract an automatic discount of 20%)
Opaque earthenware (if you hold either of these plates up to a strong light source, you cannot see through the material, unlike fine bone china)
Cream//White base colouring overall
Seaside scene with the lighthouse being a feature to one side and the fishing vessel the other ... further comments about the depicted scene are above in the preamble.
All artwork decoration is absolutely hand painted (very skilful craftspersonship)
Gold gilding to the outer rim only
This plate was part of our stunning St Ives tableware set, they looked absolutely stunning even when just stacked in the spare room cabinets!
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Here are photographs of the backstamp from each plate being offered
Small side 6 3/4" (170mm) diameter plate
Medium dinner plate 9" (230mm) diameter plate
Notice that the works artist contributed to the backstamp along with the Green Alfred Meakin backstamp and the Gold gilder has left their "mark" on each piece.
COSMETIC CONDITION:
I have two of these plates, each being a different size but the general description below applies to BOTH plates on offer, any differences are then noted below this general description
NO damage to the artwork at all (scrapping etc)
NO cracks at all
NO discolouration or significant spotting
All colours remain vibrant and "fresh" looking, even after 70+ years!
NO obvious visual signs of wear n tear to the Gold gilding anywhere around the rims on both plates - nice!
YES, there is light crazing evident to both pieces ... crazing is where the top surface glazing cracks with age/temperature changes etc ... crazing can be very light and barely perceivable and at other times very heavy even to the point where Brown marks occur underneath the glazing due to bacteria entering through the glaze cracks.
Both of these plates have VERY LIGHT crazing and in fact it is really only noticeable once the "wet test" has been applied - soak in fresh water for a short time and you will see "shadows" under the glaze. These will slowly disappear as the plate dries out.
My wife would always ensure these had regular soap n water washes with complete hand drying and even sometimes applied a light spray of iso-alcohol to prevent those little bacteria nasties from getting inside the crazing - all these years and they still look great!
Crazing is a "fact of life" with old earthenware or bone china wares - only the severity of the crazing varies from piece to piece.
NO fleabites to either plate (underside)
A nice example of Alfred Meakin "themed art" St Ives seaside design.
