By 1877 Henry Doulton had established the name of the Doulton Lambeth art wares when he decided to accept an invitation to invest money in Pinder, Bourne & Co., Burslem, a medium-quality earthenware factory. Within ten years he had enlarged the factory three times, built a china works, taken on the largest and most gifted group of artists in the Potteries, and developed for Doulton a reputation for craftsmanship and artistry still identified with Royal Doulton today. Mr. Doulton was appointed "Potter to H.R.H. The Prince of Wales" (later King Edward VI) in 1886.

This is a Royal Doulton “Madras” Burslem antique plate, which the mark on the back dates from 1891 to 1902. It was produced using the transferware technique (an engraved metal plate is pressed into the ceramic). There are some scratches on the face as well as crazing on the front and back. It also has a few manufacturing flaws. I don’t know if factories at that time put aside “seconds” but there is a “2” in the center of the back of the plate and the mark is almost off the edge of the plate. Embossed in the ceramic are the numbers “2-12”. The plate measures 9-1/2” in diameter. The colors are crisp and bright.

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