Ephemera

Chamberlains Worcester Plates

Made for the Nawab of the Carnatic.

• Underglaze blue border with embossed floral decoration.
  Soft paste porcelain
  Diameter 23 cms

A Chamberlain's Worcester plate from the Carnatic Service dated 1820, painted with botanical specimens within blue moulded borders picked out in white and gilt, a small panel inscribed in Arabic with 'Amir-al-Hind Nawab Azam Jah Bahadur 1236 Hjri', the date corresponding to 1820 AD, the plate painted with a specimen of Rigid-Leaved Gorteria copied from William Curtis's designs for the Botanical Magazine, Vol 3, pl. 90. Titled in red to the underside, printed marks, 25.6cm.

This service was ordered by Azam Jah, His Highness the Nawab (sometimes Nabob) of the Carnatic in 1820 and delivered from Worcester in 1823. The service was sold at Bonhams on 11th May 1978, lot 115

From Curtis's Botanical Magazine
1806, No. 929
Prickly Comfrey

Similar dishes can be viewed in the V&A collection and the Museum of Royal Worcester