Victorian Aesthetic Movement Transferware Plate with Japonisme Motifs, T. Elsmore & Son, England

Description:

A finely rendered Victorian English transferware plate produced by T. Elsmore & Son, featuring an intricate Aesthetic Movement design influenced by Japonisme. Printed in rich sepia-brown on a softly aged ivory ground, the composition centers on an ornamental still life vignette incorporating a classical pedestal, decorative vessel, fan motif, flowering branches, and stylized foliage.

Surrounding motifs of bamboo, blossoms, butterflies, and scrolling botanical forms animate the surface with a sense of movement and asymmetry, reflecting the late 19th century’s fascination with Eastern design principles and pictorial storytelling. A delicate repeating border encircles the rim, lending balance and refinement to the composition without overpowering the central imagery.

The reverse bears the printed T. ELSMORE & SON / ENGLAND mark along with factory symbols consistent with Staffordshire production of the period, firmly anchoring the plate within the canon of late Victorian decorative ceramics.

Both decorative and collectible, this plate is well suited for wall display, tabletop layering, or inclusion within a curated Aesthetic Movement or English transferware collection.

Condition:

Good antique condition. Light surface wear, gentle crazing, and minor discoloration consistent with age and use. No structural cracks or repairs observed.

Provenance:

Private English collection

Creator: T. Elsmore & Son

Origin: Staffordshire, England

Date: Late 19th century, circa 1870–1890

Materials: Earthenware with brown transfer decoration

Dimensions: 10 in. diameter