Antique Blue Italian Pattern Meat Drainer

A rare 19th century blue and white transfer print meat drainer in the ‘Blue Italian’ pattern, which shows a charming rural scene of people and animals enjoying a day by a river with some architectural ruins in the background. Meat drainers were made to sit into the recess at the bottom of a large meat plate to allow the juices to drain away from the joint of meat. They are highly collectible and look fantastic displayed either on a dresser or shelf, or arranged on a wall. The design of this drainer is lovely and the printing of very good quality - it is the ‘Blue Italian Pattern’ which was a huge success for Spode, but as there is no mark I can’t say if this was made by Spode.