A rare antique Scottish spongeware plaque in Airlie pattern designed to be hung on
a wall.
This is much the same shape as the Sunderland lustre plaques made around the same time in Newcastle,
but in my view much prettier. I have never seen one of these before, so it is a rare thing.
Airlie ware was
made by David Methven and Sons of Kirkcaldy, Fife, for the Angus region of Scotland. Airlie is a small village and the name
of a castle belonging to Earl of Airlie.
It is entirely hand decorated, the blue flowers sponged and the rest hand
painted.
Approx. 21.5 cm wide and 19.7 cm high.
Stamped "Airlie ware" to reverse as can be seen in the photo below.
Circa 1860-80.
No chips or cracks or restoration. Usual slight crazing in the body of the ware as you expect with spongeware, but
in this case very slight. Painting is particularly good.
