“Marine Hospital Louisville Kentucky” Staffordshire Plate
Staffordshire transferware plate by Enoch Wood and Sons, circa 1825.
Dimensions: Approximately 9⅛” diameter.
Decoration:
The border is decorated in Wood’s shell border pattern. This version is referred to as the “Irregular” or “Grotto-shaped” center” version because of the way in which the border frames the central scene.
The central scene is of the hospital building in the background and a fenced field and two individuals in the foreground.
Beneath the scene are the words “Marine Hospital Louisville Kentucky”.
The reverse is marked with an impressed “Wood”. There appears to be a barely legible impressed mark “II” beneath it. In addition, there is a blue printed “33”, which is likely a workman’s mark.
Believed to have been built in 1823, the hospital was erected by the government to care for sailors who became ill while working on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The structure has been demolished and its site unknown today.
References:
“Historical Staffordshire An Illustrated Check-List” by David & Linda Arman.
“Anglo-American China, Part I” by Laidacker.
“American Historical Views on Staffordshire China” by Larsen.
Condition: In excellent condition consistent with age and usage.