BACKGROUND:
I understand you (really!) I pen so many words and provide so much information but both my wife and I feel that we owe it, to those who are interested, to provide as much detail as possible about her chinaware offerings, we don't just say meaningless things such as "condition commensurate with age"!)
Chinaware (and other beautifully hand made items) is my wife's passion and websites is mine! This combination allows us to offer items which we have loved and cared for over the years but as the "light at the end of the tunnel" is becoming brighter, (advancing age!) all of these beautiful items must find new homes which hold similar values to ourselves.
It's Paragon Time!
My wife is an ardent collector of fine chinaware's and she has slowly been passing bits and pieces to me for listing on our family website. Usually she just gives me "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" (remember that song ...)
but she has suddenly decided to clear a whole cabinet of beautiful Paragon! Old Royal Paragon and more contemporary Paragon ... lots of them!
Paragon China (1919 ~ 1960) was based in Longton, Stoke-On-Kent and produced very high quality fine china with a range of stunning designs, particularly breakfast settings.
Over it's history, the company was awarded a number of Royal warrants and eventually Paragon became part of the Royal Doulton group (1972)
This serving plate was part of a complete dining set which, over the years, dwindled down to now that she has just a few pieces left. This is one of them, just a serving plate! She dates this pattern from around the 1950's period and always had a feeling that this was one of Paragon's "corporate" products, likely custom designed for large hoteliers and the like.
Not a colourful plate at all, Black decoration on the White base china, finished with Gold gilding.
If this Paragon doesn't "do it" for you, you can view other Paragon fine chinaware HERE
PARAGON - Serving plate ONLY
Made in England
Most likely circa period 1950's
Fine Bone White China
Translucent, meaning if held to the light you can fairly easily see your fingers through the chinaware
Square shaped with two tab handles
Design pattern or code number is unknown and is not indicated on the saucer BUT one of the teacups from the same dining set (which she is keeping for now) has the number 4841 hand painted onto it.
The design is curious, certainly it doesn't appear to impress with colour or flowers! The decoration has definitely been hand applied, this can easily be confirmed when viewed with a magnifying glass.
My wife feels this pattern relates to a particular company or organisation but we have no idea who ... quite a basic design of simple leaf trails, wreaths and what appear to be simple depictions of a person (or perhaps our imaginations have gone a bit wild here!)
Here is a closeup photograph of the design that has been applied to every piece of this dining set
DIMENSIONS:
238mm (9.25") across
BACKSTAMP DETAILS:
Black printed backstamp as photographed
COSMETIC CONDITION:
CLEAN
NO cracks
NO chips
NO crazing observed (both wet or dry observation)
After 75+ years, no tableware that has been in use will be perfect in every way ... this serving plate is no exception and here are the details ...
Only very light Knife or scratch marks in the central area from previous use
One fleabite only observed on the underside, not discoloured
Handling wear to the Gold gilding is apparent on either tab handle, one side showing more wear than the other. A couple of spots on the edge rim gilding I can also see light wear.
Please see the last few photographs to get an idea of this wear to the gilding ...
Overall, I would consider this serving plate to be in reasonable condition with only light wear showing primarily to the gilding from handling.
